No more talks with Reds – Duterte
Free housing, livelihood for communist rebels who surrender
“There will be no talks for the next five years.”
President Duterte stressed this as he shared the view of Jose Maria Sison, founding chair of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) who is reportedly hesitant to return to the peace negotiating table.
“Pareho kami. Sundan ko na lang siya. Kung ayaw niya, ayaw ko na rin [We’re the same. I will follow him. If he doesn’t want to, so do I],” Duterte said over television program “Sa Totoo Lang” hosted by Erwin Tulfo on state-owned PTV-4 network.
For the rebels who want to rejoin mainstream society, Duterte urged them to just go to the nearest police or military camp and announce their surrender. He even promised to give them free housing and livelihood in exchange of their surrender to
the government.
“Lumapit kayo doon sa sundalo pati sabihin mo, ‘ayaw ko nang makipag-away sa gobyerno.’ Tatanggapin ko kayo. Just give me mga one week, tatayuan ko kayo ng bahay. Bibigyan ko kayo ng trabaho [Just go to soldiers and say, ‘I don’t want to fight the government anymore.’ I will accept you. Just give me one week, I will build houses for you and give you jobs],” he said.
Sison reportedly declared the communist group would no longer return to the peace talks, claiming Duterte has been proven to be a liar and untrustworthy. The CPP leader, currently in exile in the Netherlands, said the line has been drawn to fight and overthrow the Duterte regime.
The President had earlier set conditions for the resumption of the peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF).
He said if the rebels want to resume the talks, they must declare a ceasefire. “And if you say you want another war, be my guest,” he said in his remarks in Davao last week.
Peace talks between the government and the communists bogged down after a series of attacks by the New People’s Army (NPA) against government forces. The President has been furious over the rebel attacks that claimed the lives of many soldiers and policemen, prompting him to suspend the talks with the Reds.
Recently, the President said he would not hesitate to declare a nationwide martial law if the communist rebels launch a violent rebellion against the government.
The President said he would deploy the police and the military to arrest the communist rebels causing trouble and destruction in the streets.