Peace talks with NDF to boost business climate – Duterte

MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte is upbeat about the ongoing peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front in Oslo, Norway and is confident that the communists are determined to come up with an agreement.

“I’m really creating an environment (conducive) to (doing) business, especially in Mindanao. If by chance I hit a deal with the Left, we’re halfway through,” Duterte said during the oath taking of leaders of business groups yesterday in Malacañang.

Duterte made the statements as the peace panels buckled down to work and focused on “substantive” issues to fast-track the process.

In noting their apparent sincerity, the President said the communists allowed their compatriots to join government service and that he tried to pick a fight with them but they did not react in a negative way.

Among the people associated with the communists who were given government posts were Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo and National Anti-Poverty Commission lead convenor Liza Maza.  

“They have declared the ceasefire so there is no reason to prolong it (conflict),” the President said.

Prior to the resumption of talks, Duterte mocked the communist rebels, portraying them as a group pretending to have clout despite failing to win any elective post.

He also accused them of extortion and criticized them for using landmines that had been prohibited by the Geneva Convention.

Duterte sees no need to go to Oslo to oversee the peace talks for now. He said he would just wait for the results of the negotiations, which started last Monday.

Duterte is also hopeful of reaching a settlement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front.

“If that happens, our only enemy will be the gangsters, brigands, the bandits. They have nothing to offer except to torture and kill people,” he said.

On the second day of the negotiations in Oslo, government peace panel chairman and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they held successive panel and committee meetings on the following agenda: affirmation of previously signed agreements; accelerated process for negotiations, including the timeline for the completion of the remaining substantive agenda for the talks – socioeconomic, political and economic reforms and end of hostilities and disposition of forces.

The others were the reconstitution of the Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees list and amnesty proclamation for the release of all detained political prisoners, subject to concurrence by Congress. – With Edith Regalado