Duterte eyes ‘immediate’ ceasefire with Reds

MANILA, Philippines — A month after declaring the “permanent” termination of talks with communists, President Duterte yesterday expressed readiness to declare an “immediate ceasefire” with the rebels to give way to negotiations.

Duterte said talks would be possible if members of the New People’s Army (NPA) do not bring with them their weapons in their camps.

”Yung mga NPA, gusto talaga ninyo ng usapang matino (The NPAs, if you really want to talk), immediate ceasefire,” the president said during a campaign rally in Cagayan. ”No one  should bring firearms in your camps. No taxation. No arson.”

The President scrapped the talks with communists in 2017 after NPA fighters mounted attacks against government forces and civilians.

Duterte reiterated the “permanent” termination of the negotiations last month.He also urged Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison to come home.

Sison has been on self-exile in the Netherlands since 1987.

”Umuwi ka dito, Sison. Ako’ng bahala sa ‘yo. Hindi ako traydor na tao (Come home, Sison. I am not a traitor). I give you my word of honor.Mag-usap tayo (Let us talk),” Duterte said.”But nothing about coalition gov’t. You can never have even an iota of the sovereign power of the Republic of the Philippines.”