In November 2017, through Proclamation 360, President Rodrigo Duterte formally scuttled the peace negotiations between government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF). 'In spite of the best efforts exerted by this Administration, the NDF-CPP-NPA failed to show its sincerity and commitment in pursuing genuine and meaningful peace negotiations,' the Proclamation reads. This decision by an avowed socialist president who gave unsolicited concessions to communists — even enlisted leftists into his Cabinet — was widely hailed by the public that was sick and tired of this menace that has brought havoc to the nation.

But in November 2023, news reports about exploratory talks for the possible resumption of peace negotiations between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) shocked the nation. It jolted all of us that this evil, long dead and buried, is being resurrected from the grave. In just minutes after the 'breaking news' spread like wildfire, different chat groups with senior active and retired officers from the military, police, and coast guards as members were inundated with irate comments of disapproval — mostly expressing disdain — as to why government has to embark on yet another exercise in futility at the expense of taxpayers' money.