Duterte hopes to resume talks with CPP despite lifting truce

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said that he wants to resume peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) despite lifting the unilateral ceasefire he declared a few days ago.

The president lifted the ceasefire last Saturday after the National Democratic Front of the Philippines failed to announce a reciprocal ceasefire within the deadline that he gave.

"I believe that as a nation, as people, as citizens of this country and knowing fully well the cost of fighting with each other... It's all a despicable thought to me but I hope that we can proceed with talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines," Duterte said in an impromptu speech before the oath-taking of Malacañang appointees.

Duterte declared a unilateral ceasefire with the communist rebels during his first State of the Nation Address last June 30.

A few days after declaring a truce with the CPP, the New People's Army ambushed government troops in Davao del Norte which left one government militiaman dead and three others injured.

The president stressed that he wants to have talks with the whole CPP community and not just with their founding chairman Joma Sison.

Duterte said he only wants the country to attain peace before he steps down at the end of his term in 2022.

"Kaya nga ako nag-declare ng ceasefire. Ako pa ang namatayan, kami pa ngayon ang kontrabida. I declared truce, nagbaba ka ng mga sundalo tapos in-ambush," Duterte said.

Sison, chief political consultant of the NDFP, earlier described Duterte a "very volatile" leader who rushes to decisions after lifting the ceasefire last weekend.

READ: Communist Party: NPA will not be browbeaten into ceasefire

"Ayaw ni Duterte ng ceasefire, ayaw na rin niya ng peace negotiations, bahala siya! Pinakaayaw ng kilos rebolusyonaryo yung nambu-bully," Sison said in a telephone interview with ABS-CBN News.

The CPP said in a statement that it would issue a unilateral ceasefire declaration with the government on the resumption of peace talks in Oslo, Norway on August 20.

Duterte is also set to meet with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Mindanao for peace talks.

The president will meet with MNLF founder Nur Misuari in a few days to give rebel leaders safe conduct passes.

However, the president stressed that he will not hold talks with terrorist group Abu Sayyaf which he described as criminals.

"We will be going for the framework regarding the two factions (MILF and MNLF) but I'm very sorry to say that there will be no talks about these things with Abu Sayyaf. I will not deal with criminals. I will not deal (with) persons of extreme brutality. There is no redeeming factor or reason for me to sit down and talk with criminals," Duterte said.

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