Government, CPP ready for second round of talks – Rody

MANILA, Philippines - The government and the Communist Party of the Philippines are ready for the second round of talks in Oslo, Norway next month, President Duterte announced yesterday.

Duterte also appealed to the military to be more circumspect about the peace talks, allaying the possible unrest caused by the administration’s move for a permanent ceasefire with the CPP-New People’s Army.

“Let me tell you from the heart, it hurts because you know, (the NPAs are) natural enemy. But let me also remind you that this natural enemy wanted to kill Filipinos too,” Duterte told troops of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division in Isabela yesterday.

Duterte also told the troops that he is mandated by law to work with the various threat groups to seek peace with them.

“It is really my golden duty to seek peace for the land. That’s my job – to look on how to stop the killing between fellow Filipinos,” he said. “Even before I took my oath of office, I was already sending Secretary (Silvestre) Bello… I pray that we will be able to attain peace.

“We are doing well, and in the fullness of God’s time, I pray that we will be able to have peace. Mindanao is a very sticky issue,” Duterte said.

With his roots from Mindanao, Duterte said he has the leverage to reach out to many groups there. 

“If we reach an agreement with the communists, it is not a case where you will be relaxed because your training will continue,” he said.

“(Peace) will come in the horizon, just don’t ask me when, but it will come,” he said.

Duterte, however, revealed his predicament with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari.

He said Misuari remained reluctant to go back to the negotiating table.

“Nur is ambivalent. The way I see it, Nur will not commit now, he is consolidating the forces but he has lost control of the young men of the Moro generation,” Duterte said.

Duterte earlier assured Misuari that he will not be arrested in case he comes out of hiding. Misuari is facing criminal charges for the Zamboanga siege in 2013.

Duterte reiterated that he has talked with the leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the MNLF at the start of his term to put an end to the many secessionist movements in Mindanao.

“So I find it easy to have access to every Moro tribe for the reason that, well, my grandmother is a Moro. I have talked to MILF vice chairman (Ghazali) Jaafar, to MILF chairman (Al Hadj) Murad, easily they said: let’s talk. Let us revive the talks’,” he said.

Duterte also recalled how he went to the MILF camp to show his sincerity in his calls to talk peace with the Moros.

Welcoming peace month

In Plaridel, Bulacan, peace advocates based in this town welcomed the Peace Month of September with the theme “Tayo ang Pagbabago, Tayo ang Kapayapaan.”

Ernesto Alcanzare, lead organizer of Yes for Peace – Bayanihan ng Bayan para sa Mapayapa, Maunlad at Masaganang Pilipinas, told The STAR that the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process headed by Secretary Jesus Dureza has adopted the theme.

Alcanzare said, “We are looking forward to a comprehensive peace process that is truly responsive to the calls of the people enunciated by the more than 12.3 million Filipinos who have thus far responded to our campaign and have volunteered to be KaBayanihans for the collective involvement and participation needed for effective and efficient delivery of government programs and projects that can address the roots of insurgency.”

He also quoted Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, chief government negotiator with the National Democratic Front as saying, “Eventually, the Reciprocal Working Groups and Reciprocal Working Committees will respond to the calls of the people and realize the wisdom of an open and participatory peace process here in the country.” – With Ramon Efren Lazaro