Palace: NDFP offer of help vs Mautes should have no conditions

MANILA, Philippines — The government and communist rebels are not likely to work together against the Maute terrorists if the National Democratic Front of the Philippines imposes certain conditions, Malacañang said Thursday.

 

The NDFP, which represents the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army in the peace talks, said cooperation with the government against the Islamic extremists would only happen if the Duterte administration withdraws its martial law declaration in Mindanao.

 

The NDF also said it has called on NPA units in Marawi City to assume “home defense tasks” against the Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists.

 

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said the NDF “must stand against the common enemy without conditions” if it is really in pursuit of peaceful existence.

 

“A potential cooperation is unlikely with the statement of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) that it would cooperate with the government in fighting the Maute group if we would lift the declaration of martial law and withdraw our all-out war policy,” Abella said.

 

“The Duterte administration would rather pursue the path of genuine dialogue to build a nation worthy of its citizens,” he added.

 

NDF has formally offered to help the government fight the Maute group but Duterte said he was not keen about it. The president, however, has expressed readiness to recruit former rebels to the military.

 

In late May, Duterte said in a speech before troops in Jolo that he is willing to take in fighters from the Moro National Liberation Front, Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the NPA to take on the Maute group, which the government says has established links with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

 

Duterte said that he had accepted an offer by MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari to send 2,000 fighters to Marawi but said after the Armed Forces of the Philippines said there are no protocols in place to allow the MNLF into the military that it is not the right time.

 

The MILF, meanwhile, has been helping security forces keep a "peace corridor" to Marawi City open for humanitarian aid and for teams rescuing residents still trapped in the besieged capital of Lanao del Sur.