Resetting talks with Reds meant to protect peace gains – Dureza

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary Jesus Dureza said the resetting of the planned peace talks with the communist side is exactly for the purpose of protecting the gains achieved in the backchannel talks prior to the formal resumption of peace negotiations.

In a statement, Dureza said

history teaches of many peace deals that suffered setbacks due to the lack of public support “and this is precisely why we have decided to engage the public and have consultations with various sectors to protect those gains.”

“We have even planned on inviting resource persons who participated in the recent back channel talks from both sides to engage the stakeholders together. We have already witnessed how this helped in the Bangsamoro peace efforts where leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front participated actively in the effort,” Dureza said.

“Getting public support and goodwill even while still in the course of peace negotiations is truly indispensable. Suddenly springing finished peace agreements upon a public who have been kept in the dark during the negotiations can certainly undermine those efforts,” he added.

Dureza said both sides of the negotiating table must be hand in hand in this effort, and they truly hope that the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) will join them in this crucial endeavor as any negative reaction can only further jeopardize the gains so far jointly achieved.

Represented at the talks are the CPP, along with its armed wing – the New People’s Army (NPA), and the National Democratic Front (NDF).

“While we do respect whatever stand they may have on the matter, we do hope our peace partners in the CPP-NPA-NDF will view all these developments in this light,” Dureza said.

“Our people, in whose service and for whose benefit, all our efforts are for, must be with us in the quest for a just and lasting peace in our country,” he explained.

Lorenzana chides Joma Earlier, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that NDF Chief Political Consultant, Prof. Jose Maria Sison, is acting like a “spoiled brat” and proving that he is very out of touch with reality.

It was a reaction to Sison commenting “that it is both disappointing and frustrating that the Duterte regime has unilaterally cancelled the scheduled start of the stand-down ceasefire on June 21 and the resumption of formal talks in the peace negotiations in Oslo a week later on June 28.”

He also claimed that no less than President Duterte is the one destroying the peace talks.

“Instead of rationally talking with our panel to discuss how to move forward the resumption of the peace talks, he goes into tantrum and orders the NPA to wage a people’s war,” Lorenzana said.

“His ego is robbing many Filipinos whom he has misled all these years, of what could be their best chance ever to rejoin their families and live productive lives,” he added.

Lorenzana said it’s easy for Sison to order the NPA to wage war and get killed while he is safely in the Netherlands enjoying a life of comfort and leisure.

“Your so-called army no longer listens to you. They are sick and tired of your lies and rhetoric, and are in fact heeding the call of President (Rodrigo) Duterte to come down and live peaceful lives and they are doing just that,” Lorenzana said.

“They have been surrendering in droves since November last year. So you think you can force the government to the peace table by waging war? Don't underestimate President Duterte,” he added.

Talks in PH Senator Richard Gordon said yesterday that he supports calls for the resumption of peace talks between the government and communist rebel groups to be held on Philippine soil.

Gordon said bringing back the negotiating table in the country would primarily help the government save funds.

He said holding the peace talks within the Philippines would also help the government ascertain whether the CPP-NPA founder (Sison) still has control over their armed wing (NPA).

“We need to know whether he still has control over his people. Because most of the time, even if there are peace talks, NPA elements still kill soldiers here,” Gordon pointed out.

Duterte had earlier offered to shoulder the trip of communist leaders as soon as they agree to hold the peace talks within the country.

The President said he rejected Sison’s suggestion that they meet in Vietnam and gave him 60 days to come home. He also said he would make sure that Sison does not get killed when he comes back to the country.

Earlier, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said he supports the President’s decision that the venue of the next round of peace talks be in the Philippines.

Drilon also suggested that the next round of talks should not include any international third party to accelerate the discussion.

“The peace talks have always been held in an international ground but it did not seem to accelerate discussion. Let the real peace talks begin in a local arena. No third party this time,” Drilon said.

Peace saboteurs

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate is urging President Duterte not to give in to the whims of peace saboteurs and spoilers and immediately resume the peace talks between the government and the communist rebels.

He said peace saboteurs are “already working hard now” in delaying the peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)” scheduled supposedly on June 28.

“The peace saboteurs monkey wrenched the peace negotiations even if there is already a joint stand-down agreement the NDFP signed with the government on June 8, as proof that the peace panels are serious in resuming the stalled talks,” he said in a statement.

The Agreement on a Stand-Down for the Resumption of the Formal Peace Talks has been signed between the government peace panel, and the NDF panel.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who heads the government peace panel, and members Hernani Braganza and Angela Librado-Trinidad signed the pact, while NDF chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili and panel members Julieta de Lima and Asterio Palima signed it for the NDFP panel

“It is obvious that the peace saboteurs are trying all they can to pressure or arrest the consultants so that no talks can happen,” the Davao-based solon said.

“President Duterte should not listen to these peace spoilers, reject their hawkish overtures, and immediately resume the peace talks,” Zarate said.