Peace talks must be held in Philippines – Duterte
Peace negotiations between the government and the Communist rebel group must be held in the country since the issue involves the nation, President Duterte insisted on Tuesday.
The President assured anew that Communist leader Jose Maria Sison would be given safe passage while holding the peace talks in the country.
"Why should I talk outside? We're talking about our country, my country, their country, and they want to take over, overthrow the government,” Duterte said during the 81st anniversary celebration of the Government Service Insurance System
(GSIS) in Pasay City.
"And why do we have to talk the f***king thing outside? Bakit ako pupunta sa ibang lugar? Dito tayo mag-usap [Why would I go to another place? Let's talk here],” he added.
The President had earlier offered a 60-day window for the two sides to hammer out a peace agreement in the country. Duterte, however, recently decided to defer the resumption of the peace talks with the Communist rebel group until public consultations are conducted.
Sison, founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), reportedly wanted to resume the talks this month. He also opposed Duterte's attempt to transfer the venue of the peace talks from Norway to the Philippines, warning that it might lead to the collapse of the negotiations.
Peace talks between the Philippine government and the communist rebels had been previously held in Norway, the thirdparty facilitator of the negotiations.
The President, in his remarks Tuesday, said he intends to keep his promise “to talk to the enemies of the state so maybe we can arrive at a certain level of peace.”
He also expressed hope that Sison would come home and join the talks in the country, promising to pay for his expenses.
"I guaranteed him safety and security for the duration of the talks. I gave him a small window, kasi kapalpakan palagi, so let's talk for 60 days," he said.
Director General Oscar Albayalde, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said yesterday they are ready to provide security to Joma Sison if he intends to come back to the Philippines for the resumption of peace talks.
“If he needs protective security then we will give him protective security,” said Albayalde.
Albayalde said that Sison would be safe in his return to the Philippines because no less than President Duterte has assured his safety.
“He will be given a safe conduct pass to give way for the peace negotiations,” said Albayalde.
Duterte to pay for expenses President Duterte said that "in that period, you come home. I will pay for your expenses."
If the peace talks fail, the President said he would make sure Sison could go out of the country safely but he would tell him never to return.
“Sabihin ko sa iyo [But I will tell you] do not ever, ever come back to this country ever again," he said. More legitimacy, transparency Two senators expressed support for the President’s position on the venue of the peace talks.
“I support the position of the President that the venue of the peace talks between government and the CPP should be in the Philippines,” Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito said.
“If one of the goals of the peace talks is to attain unity and reconciliation, what better way to demonstrate this than having the negotiations here in our own country,” Ejercito stressed. “I also believe that having the negotiations here will give the talks more legitimacy, transparency, and urgency in resolving the decades-long conflict.”
Ejercito agreed with Duterte saying that if the government has already given assurance it will make sure Sison and his party will be able to arrive safely in the country, he sees no reason for the peace talks not to take place in Manila.
Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon, likewise, reiterated his support to the President’s position that the talks be held in the Philippines.
“We are all Filipinos anyway, and this problem is our own problem, so it makes sense that the venue of the peace talks is here in the country,” Drilon said in a recent interview.
Signing of CASER
CPP chairman Jose Maria Sison maintained he will not return to the Philippines unless a Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) will be signed between government (GRP) and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
Sison also insisted that the signing of CASER, dubbed the “heart and soul” of the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations to address the root cause of the Communist insurgency, must be signed in a neutral foreign venue.
“If Duterte continues to prevent the peace negotiations, I can also postpone my return until the Filipino people succeed in ousting the tyrant Duterte from power,” Sison said.
Both panels would have discussed CASER in the fifth round, one of the remaining agreements in which both parties hope to sign. Others are Political and Constitutional Reforms (CAPCR), and End of Hostilities and Disposition of Forces.
On June 14, Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (PAPP) Secretary Jesus Dureza announced that the President decided to “reset” the scheduled talks to allow his government panel to consult the bigger table before they would work out agreements with the communists.
Dureza said the President would review the previously signed agreements with the NDFP such as the 1992 Joint Hague Agreement Declaration, 1995 Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees, and 1998 Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). (With reports from Hannah L. Torregoza, Antonio L. Colina IV and Aaron Recuenco)