While the rest of the world watches on how the Philippines stage a peace process to end the communist insurgents and separatist rebels, the government with its vast intelligence and military resources has failed to thwart a treacherous attack by the NPA, the armed group of the Communist Party of the Philippines, against the mining companies in Surigao, last 3 October 2011. With this new armed and political turmoil, the international community casted doubt on whether it is within the capacity of the Philippine government to put a final nail in the coffin on this vexing problem.
The magnitude of such aggression paints a painful question on the ability of the Philippines to protect the multi-billion foreign investments in the country, especially in the field of mining and extraction of other natural resources. The fear to invest in this country would bring about untold consequences such that there would be increase in unemployment, loss of government revenue and lack of trust and confidence from the international community and business leaders. The peace process has long been delayed because of political and idealistic reasons and thus, the delay, with subsequent betrayal of truce, would mean that peace will never be accounted.
The Philippine government must put serious efforts to stop insurgency and provide a long term solution to achieve peace. While diplomacy is the key element to effectuate peace without the stain of blood being spilled, it would be fruitless to hope in the mighty heaven that peace would come at the window by mere agreement in a piece of paper. The need for military action to halt the insurgents’ acts of terrorism must be well in place at this very moment. We cannot have diplomacy and military at the same time, it is the highest form of absurdity in peace process. It is either diplomacy or military action, but to address the deadlock of the former, we must choose the latter.
