Gilbert Teodoro’s rejection of peace talks further exposes that the Marcos Jr government is not interested in addressing the roots of the armed conflict, and that it continues to rely on a brutal counterinsurgency program to quell social unrest instead of ending foreign intervention, systemic corruption, feudal exploitation, and worsening poverty.
Teodoro’s statement smacks of arrogance, ignorance about the lessons of history, and irrationality especially with his absurd claim that there is already peace in society. His idea of peace is to pacify communities resisting destructive extractive projects, suppress the people’s right to express their grievances, and treasonously collude with the US government to escalate tension in this part of the world. Utak pasista na nga, tapos kinakaladkad pa ang mga Pilipino sa gerang agresyon ng US.
Teodoro’s deceptive and malicious peace rhetoric intends to gloss over the grave abuses committed by state troops, the shameless conversion of the Philippines into one big forward operating base of the US military, and the increasing isolation of the Marcos Jr government amid rising social discontent and outrage over corruption impunity and economic uncertainty.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan calls on peace advocates to counter the fascist narrative peddled by Teodoro and the Marcos Jr government, and to continue to struggle for peace based on justice, freedom, and democracy.