“THE resumption of the talks – let me say this very carefully – depends on you.”
This was the message of President Rodrigo Duterte to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Saturday following the rebel group's move to release a police officer held hostage by its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).
In a speech, Duterte said he was still open to the resumption of stalled peace negotiations between the government and the communists.
He, however, appealed to the communist group not to rush the peace dialogue because a “thorough” discussion is needed to come up with a successful deal.
“You want to be in a hurry. There are things that I cannot concede alone because I am not the only one in control of this government. I share power with Congress and the Supreme Court so do not ask for something in a hurry and for those which are not really acceptable to the other branches of government. That’s difficult,” the President told the communist insurgents.
“Let’s talk about it thoroughly. Do not be in a hurry because we have been fighting for the last 50 years and you just cannot ignore the period of violence and killing on both sides. And you have to consider also the position of the military and the police who invested lives there. Their life is their capital there,” he added.
The Chief Executive recanted on September 8 his earlier pronouncement that there be “no more talks” with the communist group as he mulled the revival of talks, if it declares a ceasefire with the government.
Both parties were initially scheduled to meet last May 27 to June 1 for the fifth round of talks but Duterte scrapped the peace negotiations, following the series of attacks of NPA against the state forces.
In his latest remark, Duterte said the fate of the peace negotiations now depends on the communist party.
“Anyway, your message to me for the resumption of the talks, let me say this very carefully: It depends on you. It depends on you because when I became [president], there were so many demands and I conceded. And I even [appointed] people from the Left to join the government and released almost something like 25 prisoners of war in the Bilibid,” Duterte said.
“Now, if you want to resume the talks, I am not adverse to the idea but let me sort out first the other branches of government,” he added.
When he assumed office, Duterte appointed two members of the Left, Rafael Mariano and Judy Taguiwalo, as secretaries of Agriculture and Social Welfare upon the recommendation of communists’ political wing, the National Democratic Front (NDF).
The ad interim appointments of Mariano and Taguiwalo were however rejected with finality by powerful Commission on Appointments.
The rejection of their ad interim appointments prompted the Makabayan bloc, a group of left-leaning members in the House of Representatives, to cut ties with the current administration as Duterte allegedly “torpedoed” alliance with the Left.
Duterte, however, denied that he was not eager to come to terms with the communists.
“It’s not right to say that I torpedoed. If I torpedoed it, why would I go into a rigmarole of appointing you every time they are rejected or bypassed by Congress? I want them there [in my Cabinet] because I have to hear both sides,” he said.
Despite the spat between the two parties, Duterte still thanked the communist group for releasing Senior Police Officer 2 George Canete Rupinta who was abducted by NPA rebels n June 9 this year.
Rupinta assigned in Langka village in Lupon, Davao Oriental when he was held hostage by the communist fighters. He was released on September 15 and met the President a the Matina Enclaves in Davao City on Saturday evening.
Duterte welcomed the “humanitarian gesture” of the communist rebels.
“Whatever is the category, I would like to thank the Communist Party of the Philippines, the NDF, and the CPP-NPA-NDF combined for the humanitarian gesture of releasing a policeman taken hostage. He did not commit wrongdoing, except to do a duty – law and order,” Duterte said.
"Well, of course, I would have to say, I see it that all our prisoners have been treated well, in accordance of the Conventions of Geneva. And for that, I would like also to acknowledge ther respect for the law,” he added.
