MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte rejected last night the offer of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) to deploy rebel fighters in Marawi ostensibly to show a united front against the Maute group, now the subject of military operations in the city after the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.
Addressing members of the Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, Duterte said he could not allow the NPA to “fight alongside government” until the rebels have signed a commitment for a peace agreement.
National Democratic Front (NDF) peace panel chairman Fidel Agcaoili sent a letter, offering to help the government fight the Maute, the President said.
“I don’t know but I am not so keen about it. Anyway, it’s a show of goodwill,” he said.
Duterte said he would not authorize presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza and government chief negotiator Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to go back to the negotiating table yet.
Duterte has been keen on having communist leader Jose Maria Sison and other leaders sign a document declaring a unilateral ceasefire.
“I will just be frank with them right now, either we continue to talk about peace but we have to stop fighting. I will not allow any talks on my behalf, or myself, since Dureza and Bello are there (in the Netherlands),” Duterte said, adding he had done his part by releasing old communist prisoners upon his assumption in office.
“I will not allow or authorize them to go back to the negotiating table without them signing a document of unilateral (ceasefire), they would say that they will stop fighting,” he added.
He recognized that there have been “pockets of rebellion everywhere,” but these are not “large-scale.”
During the opening of the fifth round of talks between the government and the CPP leaders last week, Dureza and Bello notified their counterparts that the government would not participate in the talks until it got an assurance that the rebels will not engage in atrocities in the countryside.
Duterte said the Islamic State will never allow the NPA or any group to join their ranks – in case the Islamic groups emerge victorious against the government.
The President also expressed confidence that the government will win over extremism in spite of the headway the militant groups have made recently in the southern part of the country, particularly in Marawi City and Jolo.
“We will win over extremism. There is no way that extremists will win over us, over government,” he told the soldiers.
The President explained that what is happening now in the fight against the extremism of IS-affiliated Maute group and Abu Sayyaf is that the collateral damage is rather huge, given the loss of lives from the military as well as civilians caught in the crossfire during skirmishes or attacks.
Duterte said the problem is extremists kill civilians without any care at all, which he said government cannot do.
The President said the Philippines is a civilized nation and could not do what the terrorists are doing
“We are a civilized nation and we have a military that is well-disciplined, that is why. Sometimes we are in a quandary,” he added.
But the President vowed that when he steps down from office, the country will have a strong Armed Forces.
The President also promised a P50-billion trust fund for the education of the children of the soldiers and the police. – With Edith Regalado