MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte will turn to localized peace talks after recently shutting his door on negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF)
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Duterte administration is trying a different tact as CPP founder Jose Maria Sison seems to have no control over communist rebel forces in the Philippines.
“The administration still seeks peace. We are just trying a different tact by localizing the peace talks as the concerns of rebel groups vary from one locality to another,” Panelo said in a statement.
For the government to possibly reconsider peace talks, Panelo said the CPP-NPA-NDF must demonstrate genuine sincerity in the peace process by laying down arms and shunning acts of violence, which include murder, rape, extortion, and destruction of public infrastructure and private properties if they want peace negotiations to resume.
“Until such demonstration of sincerity, the localized peace talks shall be given impetus,” Panelo said.
Duterte made known of the government’s latest peace strategy after announcing on Thursday the permanent termination of the peace negotiations with the CPP-NPA-NDF.
When Duterte assumed the presidency in 2016, hopes are high for the end of communist insurgency in the Philippines due to his close ties with Sison.
The peace negotiations between the Philippine government and communist rebels collapsed after Duterte signed Proclamation No. 360 terminating peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF.
In September last year, Duterte said that the communist insurgency may be over by the second quarter of 2019 following the surrendering of NPA members and fall of several guerilla fronts in Mindanao as indicators./PN
