Revive talks with communist rebels, Duterte orders gov’t peace panel

President Duterte has directed the government peace panel to revive peace talks with the local communist rebel group, saying he wanted to give the peace process “another last chance.”

The President, however, pressed on the rebels to forge a ceasefire

agreement with the government when the peace negotiations resume, according to Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza.

“President Duterte directed during the Cabinet meeting today (Wednesday) to work on the resumption of peace talks with the CPP/NPA/NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front) with clear instructions on the importance of forging a ceasefire agreement to stop mutual attacks and fighting while talks are underway,” Dureza said in a statement.

“The President said: ‘Let’s give this another last chance.’ He also committed to provide support, if necessary, in replacement of the ‘revolutionary tax’ that he asked be stopped,” he added.

The President had earlier said he was ready to resume the peace talks with the communists, and “subsidize” the peace process. Duterte, however, asked the communists to declare a truce with the government and stop their arson attacks to facilitate an environment conducive for the peace talks.

“So ito, first time ko ito nagsalita since (Joma) Sison is always mentioning about the peace process. I am ready. First thing is we should stop killing each other. Then if we can have peace; and if you do not have the money, government will subsidize it,” he said during his visit to Oriental Mindoro last Tuesday.

Duterte said he prefers to spend government funds on projects such as schools, hospital, bridges and instead of waging war on rebels. “Let us talk about peace and stop killing,” he added.

President Duterte’s order comes on the same day that Malacañang released Administrative Order (AO) No. 10, which integrated all the rebel-returnee programs such as the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) and Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana).

AO10 was signed by President Duterte on April 3, 2018.

Under the centralization of the programs, government assistance would converge into a program called Task Force Balik Loob, through agencies such as the Department of National Defense (DND), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), OPAPP, Office of the President, and the National Housing Authority.

The DND representative would chair the task force.

Despite the peace initiative, Malacañang said the government is not inclined to withdraw its court petition seeking to declare the communist rebels as terrorists.

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the President's peace initiative has “no effect” on the government’s move to declare several persons as terrorists.

“For as long as the legal requirements under the Human Security Act are met, then the government will pursue its proscription action against these people regardless of the fact na coincidentally, they are supposed to be ‘consultants’ sa peace process,” he said during a Palace press briefing.

“For now, that statement by the President, which is premised on certain preconditions, will not affect in anyway the pending petition for the proscription of certain individuals as terrorists or violators of the Human Security Act,” he added.

The government petition seeking to declare the CPP and NPA as terrorist organizations is pending before a Manila court. Over 600 individuals, including a United Nations special rapporteur have reportedly been included in the government list of alleged terrorists.

During a visit to Oriental Mindoro Tuesday, the President expressed readiness to resume peace talks and asked the rebels to declare a ceasefire with the government.

Prove control

But before declaring a ceasefire, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said communist leaders should prove first that they have control over their people on the ground. The President ended the peace talks when NPA atrocities continued on the ground leading to a number of deaths on the government side despite the bilateral ceasefire.

“I call that disabling environment, not anymore enabling. Parang sinasabutahe nila yung kung meron mang balak makipag-usap,” Lorenzana said.

"What we want is bilateral (ceasefire) so that there will be mechanism to check who is violating what. We don't have any problem in controlling our troops, even the police because we have this chain of command," he said.

Lorenzana said they consider the NPA as their No. 1 security threat because they have been the cause of some underdevelopment in the countryside where they operate.

Anathema to peace

Lorenzana expressed belief that the Reds are eager to go back to the peace table because of three reasons.

“First, their fighters and mass base are surrendering in droves. More and more are returning to society because of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program and their desire to give their families a better future,” Lorenzana said.

“Second, the President has given notice that any business found paying and helping the NPA would be closed," he added.

Third, he said, they are about to be declared by the court as a terrorist organization.

“They can no longer hide their sinister plans and actions by using their political ideology as their legal cover,” he added. (With Francis T. Wakefield)