Marcos admin won't revive peace talks; Carlos rejects red-tagging

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 10) — Peace negotiations aimed at ending communist rebels' over five decades of insurgency would likely not continue under the incoming administration of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., with his national security adviser not in favor of them.

Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Source on Friday, retired University of the Philippines political science professor Clarita Carlos said authorities should instead go to the ground and replicate successes there.

"We don't have any quarrel in regard to the things that are really happening: the lack of opportunities, injustice, etc. Wala na tayong quarrel diyan so we have common grounds already di ba? Let us proceed from there," Carlos said.

[Translation: We don't have any quarrel on those matters so we already have common grounds, right?]

"Huwag na tayo magsayang ng energy na talking, ano. Sayang na lang 'yung laway natin doing that. Let us proceed to the ground already. Andami nang nangyayari na success, i-replicate natin 'yung success. 'Yung failure, hanapin natin bakit siya naging failure," she added.

[Translation: Let's not waste energy talking. We're just wasting our breath doing that. Let us proceed to the ground already. There are so many successes that have happened, let's replicate them. For failures, let's determine why they became such.]

Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte ended peace talks in November 2017, a move he defended four years later by invoking the rebels' "lack of accountability" for their alleged crimes, among other reasons. 

RELATED: How peace talks with communist rebels failed 

As national security adviser, Carlos will serve as vice chairman of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). The body has consistently drawn flak for its officials' frequent remarks of red-tagging or accusing a person or entity of being affiliated with communist insurgents.

However, the incoming Cabinet official disagrees with red-tagging - also stressing that using labels is a "lazy" way to define anyone.

"You don't define a person by labeling. May katuturan ba 'yan? Di ba wala? O kung walang katuturan, bakit mo gagawin pa? Tama na 'yan. Wag na natin gawin 'yan," Carlos expressed.

[Translation: Is there a point to it? There's none, right? So if there's no point, why even bother doing it? Enough of that. Let's not do that anymore.]

Marcos will formally assume the presidency on June 30.