Duterte invites Reds to local talks, chat with Sara

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte yesterday invited communist rebels to talk to local government councilors if they and Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison are not willing to talk to him.

And if they are hesitant to talk with the councilors, the President said they could talk to his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who has projects relating to rebel surrenderees.

In a speech during the launching of a Gaisano-owned mall in Davao City, Duterte stressed that the rebels could approach local officers and talk peace, promising to give housing facilities to those who would lay down their firearms and surrender to the government.

He said he was thankful for the help that the rebels and the people of Davao gave him during the 2016 presidential elections.

“I wouldn’t be here if it were not for your help and that includes the NPA (New People’s Army). Thank you for that. Help me. Help me find that elusive peace,” Duterte said in the Visayan dialect.

Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) officer-in-charge Eduardo Año yesterday hit back at Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Ma. Sison for saying the government has closed its doors on peace negotiations.

“Joma is mistaken. The government has always been on the side of peace. Hindi kami ang kontrabida dito. We have always been relentless in the pursuit of promoting peace and we are not giving up on it,” Año said.

He made the statement after Sison accused him and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana of convincing President Duterte to stop the peace negotiations.

Año said the government is pushing for other options including localized peace talks, following the collapse of negotiations with communist rebels.

“We are just waiting for the executive order from the President on the guidelines to get the ball rolling for the localized peace talks,” he said.

Año said the CPP, National Democratic Front (NDF) and New People’s Army (NPA) have only themselves to blame for the collapse of the peace talks in Oslo, Norway.

“It’s useless to talk to Joma and his cohorts. We would rather talk to local rebels who are actually fighting in the mountains and not Joma and those like him who are enjoying the comforts of living in Europe while his minions are doing the hard work,” he said.

According to Año, Sison is just attempting to divert the attention from their foiled plot to oust Duterte, insisting there is no use talking peace if the rebels continue with its attacks against government security forces.

Año urged Sison to order the rebels to stop all forms of hostilities such as extortion and burning of construction or farm equipment.

 “Peace requires confidence-building measures and the CPP/NPA/NDF has failed in this respect. They have only themselves to blame,” he said.