THE government remains optimistic that the right time would come for the communist and state panels to resume the peace negotiations, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Friday.
"We're waiting for the right time, and it's God's will. Yeah, [we're still looking forward to resume talks with the communist group] at the right time," Esperon told Palace reporters.
On Thursday, President Rodrigo Duterte said he has no plans to continue the peace negotiations with the communists, after its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA), staged offensives against security forces.
Speaking to government troops in Marawi City on Thursday, Duterte resented that NPA rebels killed members of the military and the police, despite his strong desire to continue the peace dialogue in a bid to achieve peace and order in the country.
Chief Executive said, "I don't want to talk to them anymore. They killed many of my soldiers. They killed many of my policemen."
Duterte made the remark after Presidential Adviser on Peace Process announced Wednesday the cancellation of back-channel talks between the government and the communists' peace panel, following the series of attacks perpetrated by the NPA.
In a statement sent to reporters on Friday, Dureza said the government peace panel is yet to receive final instruction regarding the President's plan to scrap the peace negotiations with the communist rebels.
"I have not heard him (Duterte) say categorically, 'Talks over or terminated.' Did he? What is clear now is that the scheduled back-channel meeting to work on the possible resumption of suspended fifth round was canceled," Dureza said.
"If there will be a new officially announced position, then, let's all wait for a categorical statement coming from the President no less," he added.
The two parties are initially scheduled to resume the fifth round of talks in August but this might not push through, following the latest incident that involved the NPA's attack against members of Presidential Security Group, leaving four of Duterte's security personnel injured.
Esperon said Duterte could not be blamed if he was reluctant to resume the talks, given the "attacks and atrocities" committed by the other party.
"Despite all that and so many other things before that, the Presidente still wants the peace talks," he said.
"That's why, I think, even though the President does not want to get irked because of his desire to push through with the peace talks, there's a basis for him to moot whether we should continue the peace talks, given the circumstances," he added.
Esperon said the President had given the communist group "many chances" but it does not refrain from launching attacks.
He said Duterte merely wanted the communist rebels to end hostile activities, including "depredations, extortions, burning, arson, and attacks," in order for both parties to resume the negotiations.
"The President was asking for timelines when do we get to at least put a stop to depredations, extortions, burning, arson, attacks. 'I want to have a timeline.’ That’s what the President wants," Esperon said.
"Let us remember, we cannot continue fighting while they want to talk. The President, I know his nature. He does what he says. So when you talk and go into negotiations, there are better being no attacks and atrocities. Atrocities should stop, if there's peace dialogue,” he added.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, for his part, fully supports the decision of the President to suspend the peace talks with the communists.
"We are all for peace. Sino ba ang ayaw maging mapayapa ang ating bansa? But we can only talk about peace when both sides mean what they say. Tiwala ako sa integridad at katapatan ng ating Government Peace Panel. Alam kong ginagawa nila ang sa tingin nila ay nararapat para sa bayan, alinsunod sa batas at adhikain ng ating Pangulo. I, however, question the sincerity, integrity, and motives of the other side," he said.
He said he was saddened that the government would again have to abandon the peace talk, which aims to end the decades-old insurgency.
However, he said the government has already proven its sincerity in the peace negotiations and it is now the leftists' turn to show that they are one with the government in trying to attain long last peace for the nation.
"Hindi naman puwedeng ganito na lang palagi ang nangyayari. Kailangan na nating magkalinawan. That is why I ask the leaders and members of the CPP-NPA: do you really want peace or do you want to continue down the bloody path of war?," said Lorenzana. (With Third Anne Peralta/VoxPop Philippines)
