BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental vice governor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson believes there is still a chance for the peace talks between the Philippine government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to resume.
Lacson said with President Rodrigo Duterte’s constant change of “mood” – which he finds “confusing” – the peace negotiations’ revival is possible.
Duterte issued Proclamation No. 360, formally declaring the cessation of the peace negotiations November last year.
Before that, the Duterte administration stated it wanted to speed up the crafting of a final peace agreement with the CPP.
“We always want peace in this country and I think it is better that we continue talking at the negotiating table rather than shooting each other,” said Lacson.
Lacson also believes Duterte has no plans of changing the conditions set for the peace process to progress, like the “no revolutionary taxation and no hostilities” on the part of the rebels.
A total of 60 House of Representatives members recently passed a resolution urging Duterte to resume the peace negotiations.
Three of them were from Negros Occidental: Rep. Juliet Ferrer (4th District), Rep. Melecio Yap Jr. (1st District) and Rep. Leo Cueva (2nd District)./PN
