Duterte told: Peace pact first before appointing Reds

MANILA, Philippines – Incoming president Rodrigo Duterte should first forge a final peace agreement with communist rebels before appointing some of them to key government posts, Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo Biazon said yesterday.

Biazon, who chairs the House committee on national defense and security, was commenting on Duterte’s offer to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) the top posts in the departments of labor and employment, social welfare and development, environment and natural resources and agrarian reform.

“I’ve no problem with leftists but it must be clear how far left the (appointees) are. But with regard to the CPP, it’s clear that they’ve control of the armed rebellion of the NPA,” Biazon told dzBB.

“I believe in the reforms being sought by those rebelling against the government whoever they are, but the difference is that we believe in the rule of law — theirs is through arms, which is not acceptable,” he said.

“Is this an offer to the CPP-NPA that if we have peace as a result of a final peace agreement, we’re giving these positions or we’ll give these to them and then let’s see if there will be peace?” he added.

He also urged the incoming Duterte administration to be careful in granting the demand of the CPP-NPA-NDF to release some 527 inmates described as political prisoners by the rebels before any talks could start.

He said apparently many of the detainees have been charged with heinous or non-bailable crimes.