- 2 years ago
Panayam kay National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Good afternoon ADG John and good afternoon to all of you.
00:04 Before we continue with the news and discussions,
00:07 let's talk about the update from the National Security Commission to you, ADG.
00:13 Yes, but it's good that you feel much better.
00:15 How are you now, Nina?
00:17 You know, they said that there's a trend now,
00:20 about the "Ubo at Sipon".
00:22 I don't have "Ubo at Sipon".
00:23 Don't worry, I won't touch you.
00:26 You'll be praying in the mosque.
00:28 I'm praying.
00:29 Yes, so that you'll get well soon.
00:32 Yes, to all of you, let's be careful.
00:34 Don't forget your vitamins and flu shots and pneumonia shots.
00:39 But this is the first thing.
00:40 Everybody should take care of themselves.
00:42 Because of the time, it's December,
00:44 - it's really common to get sick. - There are many people who get sick.
00:47 - Like all of the people you know now, - Yes.
00:49 - they got sick or have a disease. - That's right.
00:51 So let's be careful.
00:52 So here, let's talk about the joint communique
00:56 between the government and the NDFP.
01:00 ADG John, what is the intention of the government,
01:03 particularly of President Marcos Jr. here?
01:06 Well, you know, Nina,
01:08 the intent of our government,
01:11 from the very beginning, in particular,
01:13 President Bongbong Marcos Jr.,
01:15 is open to whatever needs to be done
01:20 to end the so-called armed conflict,
01:24 to bring peace, unity, and development to our country.
01:27 So, whether it's amnesty,
01:30 or localized peace engagement,
01:34 or exploratory talks for the communist terrorist groups,
01:39 or what we call CPP, NP, NDF,
01:42 he opened it up
01:44 so that whatever is successful in those ways,
01:49 or a combination of all,
01:50 can become the solution to this long-time armed struggle
01:54 that we want to end
01:57 within his administration.
02:00 Okay, what are the other steps of the government, ADG,
02:03 to resolve this internal strife
02:07 and to stop the local communist armed conflict?
02:11 Well, as I said earlier,
02:13 there are many avenues that we can use.
02:18 Last week, we had amnesty.
02:21 We have an amnesty proclamation.
02:23 So, the process is being carried out
02:27 to do that.
02:28 And whoever the former rebels want to return to,
02:32 they will be given help by our government.
02:35 There's also the localized peace engagement.
02:38 Our local government units,
02:39 in cooperation with our armed forces,
02:42 are talking to the guerrilla fronts below.
02:46 So, if you remember our last interview
02:49 with Colonel Medel Aguilar,
02:50 on Thursday last week,
02:53 our weekend guerrilla fronts in our country
02:55 were already below 15.
02:58 And finally,
02:59 from 22 at the start of the year.
03:01 Okay.
03:02 So, it's really good that the result of our President's desire
03:08 to have peace and unity is becoming positive.
03:10 That is right.
03:11 And the last component of this holistic approach
03:16 to peace, unity, and development
03:18 is this expiratory talks.
03:20 And let me just emphasize,
03:21 it is just an expiratory talks
03:24 because our fellow countrymen in the Netherlands,
03:29 the National Democratic Front,
03:31 which is the political arm of the CPP-NPA,
03:34 they are ready to stop the armed struggles.
03:37 So, the President took that opportunity.
03:39 Who is the President who doesn't want to do that?
03:42 Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said
03:45 when we interviewed him
03:48 about the Joint Communique,
03:50 he said this will pave the way for a new
03:52 or fresh start of peace negotiations.
03:55 So, ADG, why not the resumption
03:58 or revival of the earlier peace talks?
04:01 What is this? Back to zero?
04:03 You know, Ninia, that's a great question.
04:06 Because today, National Security Advisor Eduardo Año
04:09 issued a guidance to the NTF-ELCA.
04:11 And we all know that the NTF-ELCA
04:14 is the overall effort of the government
04:16 to end the armed conflict.
04:18 And in this guidance that he issued,
04:22 it is very clear here that we are starting from zero.
04:25 In other words,
04:27 we cannot go back to the preconditions
04:31 of what was signed in the past.
04:34 So, the discussions in the streets or in the caserns,
04:39 these are not necessarily the beginning of discussions.
04:43 We will really start from the beginning
04:46 because as mentioned by Secretary Galvez himself,
04:50 these are merely exploratory talks.
04:53 In other words,
04:55 the government is negotiating with them
04:59 in a position of strength.
05:01 We can see that we have reached the peace.
05:04 But if we can decrease the violence,
05:08 if we can save more lives,
05:09 if we can lay down their arms in another fashion,
05:14 why not?
05:16 So, that's why we say that this is not a resumption.
05:19 This is a totally new beginning
05:22 insofar as the negotiations are concerned.
05:24 Will that take much longer?
05:28 What is this? Slowly but surely?
05:30 ADG John?
05:32 Well, if we follow the previous approach,
05:35 it's long.
05:36 Because there are step-by-step conditions
05:41 that the CPP, NPA, and NDF want to do.
05:44 But here, since it's just exploratory,
05:47 we can actually shortcut the process.
05:49 So, if they want the process to be faster,
05:54 that is possible.
05:55 Because what was discussed in Oslo
05:59 was merely to explore possible parameters.
06:02 Discussing the parameters.
06:04 The parameters have not been discussed yet.
06:05 And if the parameters say that we will shortcut,
06:09 that we will go straight to the final peace agreement,
06:12 why not?
06:13 So, it's really in the hands of the communist group
06:17 if they will take this opportunity.
06:19 Not slowly but surely, but shortcut.
06:22 We want that.
06:22 We want to speed up the peace process.
06:26 I hope so.
06:27 That's what I'm saying.
06:28 I hope so.
06:29 It all depends on the sincerity and seriousness
06:32 of the other side.
06:33 Do they really want to end this armed struggle?
06:36 And if yes, they have to reciprocate
06:39 with sincerity and seriousness as well.
06:42 And the NDFP said that there are some impediments
06:47 that they will face in our government.
06:50 What are these impediments?
06:52 What can you say about this?
06:53 Well, that's why some people are hesitating
06:57 because they are already saying that
07:00 there needs to be a release of all political prisoners.
07:06 And they're not technically political prisoners
07:10 because these are the people we caught
07:12 in the act of rebellion against the state.
07:15 So, this is important for the NDFP consultants.
07:21 Number two, there needs to be an immediate ceasefire
07:24 or suspension of military operations.
07:26 And they are also talking about
07:29 removing the terrorist designation.
07:31 And it was made very clear to us
07:34 by Secretary Eduardo Año
07:36 that there are no preconditions for this exploratory talks.
07:40 In other words, the government entered here with open arms
07:43 but did not agree to any conditions that need to be met.
07:48 In other words, everything is on the table.
07:50 So, for us, the National Security Council,
07:53 for example, just one example,
07:55 the terrorist designation.
07:57 The terrorist designation is best a result
08:01 of a final peace agreement.
08:03 When we have reached an agreement
08:05 and the war is over,
08:08 then we can remove their terrorist designation
08:11 and then they can avail of amnesty.
08:14 In other words, the lifting of the terrorist designation
08:17 is best done when a final peace agreement
08:21 is already resolved by the two.
08:23 Okay, so at the end of the journey,
08:27 not at the beginning,
08:29 they are asking for it because that is one of their conditions,
08:32 to remove it before the exploratory peace talks.
08:34 Yes, I think it is a bit difficult.
08:37 So, the instructions of National Security Advisor Eduardo Año
08:43 to our friends,
08:44 to the entire National Task Force LCAC,
08:47 we welcome these exploratory talks.
08:51 But we will continue with what we're doing.
08:55 The NTF LCAC will continue with its barangay development program.
08:58 Our activities of our clusters will continue.
09:03 The focus of our military operations will continue.
09:05 In fact, the Armed Forces of the Philippines
09:08 will sustain the tempo of its operations
09:12 because we have to further weaken the ability of the CPP-NPA
09:18 to sow violence across the country.
09:20 But if the CPP-NPA will come into these exploratory talks
09:27 with sincerity and seriousness,
09:29 and the government will feel that they are really forced to end
09:36 and to abandon the armed struggle,
09:39 the government will reciprocate, definitely reciprocate.
09:43 Okay, in other talks, ADG John,
09:46 has the NTF-WPS, the West Philippine Sea,
09:51 joined our coalition to build the Christmas Convoy?
09:55 What is the update here, ADG?
09:57 Yes, a lot of people are asking me about that.
10:00 Yes, there is a coalition that was built between the team
10:04 coming from the government, the NSC,
10:06 and some other government agencies,
10:08 together with our coalition last weekend.
10:11 So here, you talked about the things about the ships that will be included,
10:18 the participants, the itinerary, the media representation,
10:22 and we asked them what ships they will use.
10:26 And they already informed us that there is one,
10:31 Captain Felix, which is a 5,000-cross-ton mothership.
10:35 And there is another supply ship, the motor launch Chiwi,
10:41 which is around 200 tons.
10:43 And there will be other ships.
10:47 But what we called upon,
10:50 these ships that will be included must be seaworthy.
10:54 Of course, because whatever happens there,
10:58 it will be the government's fault, of course.
11:01 And the captains have insufficient permits from the marina.
11:06 And the Coast Guard made it perfectly clear to them
11:10 that they will not give a permit to ship these ships
11:14 to the West Philippine Sea if they are not seaworthy.
11:18 So all of these things are currently being discussed right now.
11:22 But it will continue?
11:24 Yes, it will continue.
11:25 December 10 to 12, it will pass through the vicinity,
11:29 let me just state, the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal,
11:32 the Christmas Convoy,
11:34 then it will go to Lawak Island,
11:36 and then straight to Patag Island.
11:38 So we are thankful to our coalition
11:42 because they listened to our call
11:44 that it is better for them to go to the other islands
11:48 that are under the control of the Philippines
11:50 so that they can also give attention to those islands
11:53 that our fellow Filipinos do not know.
11:56 That's also good, right?
11:57 To give us a broader perspective,
12:00 not just focusing on one.
12:02 That's right.
12:02 Okay.
12:03 One more update, ADG.
12:05 I saw the pictures, the news here.
12:07 It's so beautiful.
12:08 Yes.
12:08 The newest Coast Guard Station in Pag-asa Island
12:13 led by NSA Eduardo Año.
12:16 What is the purpose of the installation of this station?
12:20 Yes, congratulations for the Philippine Coast Guard.
12:22 We now have a new Coast Guard Station
12:26 for the Kalayaan Island Group in Pag-asa Island.
12:29 In fact, I was accompanied by NSA Eduardo Año
12:33 and other members of the National Task Force West Philippine Sea.
12:36 And this new Coast Guard Station is so beautiful.
12:40 In fact, Ninia,
12:42 I was not only happy
12:43 because I saw the longer runway
12:46 that our government built.
12:48 The new terminal, the Ricurdo Airfield, is being built.
12:52 And the new sheltered port,
12:55 the construction is also ongoing.
12:57 And this was also inspected by Secretary Ed
13:01 and the Department of Transportation,
13:05 one of their USECs.
13:06 So, our countrymen can expect
13:09 that we will monitor the West Philippine Sea more closely.
13:14 And in the future, we will also install a coastal radar.
13:18 We will also install other equipment,
13:21 the Philippine Coast Guard,
13:22 to monitor our territories in the West Philippine Sea.
13:30 How are the facilities in the new Coast Guard Station?
13:34 Well, when we inspected it,
13:37 the facilities were still basic.
13:38 But this is just the first phase of the improvement of our Coast Guard.
13:44 We will add other monitoring equipment
13:47 in the next few weeks and months
13:49 to make our Coast Guard Station fully functional
13:54 in the Kalayaan Island Group.
13:57 Okay.
13:58 So, here's another news,
14:00 let's go back to this news.
14:05 The Philippine Coast Guard said that
14:08 the number of Chinese maritime militia vessels
14:13 in Julian Felipe Reef is alarming.
14:16 How is the situation there?
14:18 Well, Nina, it's not new
14:21 that there are a lot of Chinese maritime militia vessels
14:24 here in Julian Felipe Reef.
14:26 What is just alarming about this is the number.
14:31 There are a lot.
14:32 Actually,
14:33 It's like we have a wall there.
14:37 Yes.
14:37 It's not a Great Wall,
14:40 it's like a Great Wall of China.
14:42 Yes.
14:43 It's like they're trying really to change the facts on the ground.
14:47 So, as a result of this,
14:51 the National Task Force West Philippine Sea decided
14:54 to let the public know
14:56 what is happening at this reef,
14:58 Julian Felipe Reef,
15:00 that there is a swarming
15:02 and we sent troops there.
15:05 The Coast Guard vessels were dispatched to that area
15:08 to fly the flag as well.
15:10 Because if the Chinese Coast Guard
15:12 and the Chinese maritime militia
15:15 are present there,
15:18 flying their flag,
15:20 the Philippines must also be represented.
15:22 We also increased our maritime domain awareness
15:26 to the deployment of our troops
15:29 to show China that we are not ignoring this,
15:33 that we are protesting
15:34 and we are not happy with the swarming
15:39 in Julian Felipe Reef.
15:40 Oh, you see that?
15:41 It's like a runway.
15:43 That's what it looks like.
15:45 But before, it wasn't that many.
15:47 It wasn't.
15:48 It was reaching...
15:49 Well, now it's the most.
15:51 The most.
15:52 The most we monitored.
15:53 And you know,
15:53 when we monitor,
15:55 there are no people there.
15:56 It's really in a park.
15:58 They just parked it there.
15:59 That's why I'm looking
16:01 where the people are.
16:02 There's no one there.
16:03 There's no one.
16:04 Well, there may be a skeletal crew there.
16:08 But mostly, it's just there
16:10 just to show to the world
16:13 that this place is ours.
16:15 And we do not accept that.
16:17 And we will also...
16:19 We are deploying our assets as well
16:21 to show China
16:23 that we are not accepting this
16:27 and we are protesting
16:28 their swarming that they are doing.
16:30 Okay.
16:31 Now, ADG,
16:32 you haven't finished yet.
16:34 There's a question from our media partner,
16:37 Maricel Halili.
16:40 This is about the Islamic State
16:42 that claims responsibility
16:45 for the Marawi attack yesterday.
16:47 Or in Mindanao State University.
16:51 May we have your reaction
16:52 on this development?
16:53 And what details can you tell us?
16:57 Well, the investigation is still ongoing.
17:00 All we have are raw reports
17:02 coming from Marawi.
17:04 The probe arm
17:05 and our Western Mindanao Command
17:09 is really investigating this
17:11 and trying to find out
17:13 and verify the reports
17:14 that ISIS is involved.
17:18 At the moment,
17:21 you know, ISIS,
17:23 they tend to claim,
17:25 they have this tendency to claim
17:28 responsibility for things
17:29 that at the end of the day,
17:31 they are not responsible.
17:34 So, at present,
17:35 what I can say is
17:37 we are verifying these reports
17:39 that it was ISIS-inspired
17:42 or it was ISIS itself,
17:44 through their local counterparts
17:46 that did this.
17:49 We know of some remnants
17:52 of the extremist groups
17:54 in Lanao del Sur.
17:55 And this is being pointed out
17:57 by our authorities
17:59 and the Armed Forces of the Philippines,
18:01 together with the Philippine National Police,
18:03 has committed to find those persons
18:07 responsible for this dastardly attack.
18:10 And they will be brought to justice.
18:13 Okay, thank you very much.
18:15 Really, there is no justification
18:17 for that kind of a terror attack.
18:18 It's really sad to hear about that
18:20 on the weekend, right?
18:22 And it's Christmas.
18:23 So, to all those affected,
18:25 and now, they are still in the hospital,
18:27 especially the families in Wicca.
18:29 We are really grateful
18:31 to you.
18:32 And you said that you will do everything
18:35 to give them justice.
18:37 Yeah, and not only that,
18:38 our fellow Filipinos are just celebrating
18:41 at the MSU gym when this happened.
18:44 So, we really condemn this violent attack.
18:47 And together with Ninia,
18:48 we at Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon,
18:50 we extend our condolences
18:53 to all the victims of this unprovoked
18:56 and dastardly terrorist attack
18:57 to our fellow Filipinos in Marawi City.
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