DUTERTE BACKTRACKS, MULLS TALKS WITH REDS

But only when the communist rebels declare a ceasefire.

As expected, President Rodrigo Duterte has again backtracked and hinted he was open to reviving the peace talks with the communist rebels, but only if the rebels declare a ceasefire first.

“There will be no talks until you declare a ceasefire. Period,” the President said in a speech delivered during the 17th founding anniversary of Digos City at the Digos City Gymnasium in Davao del Sur Friday.

This was a departure from his previous declaration that there will be “no more talks” with the communists.

Duterte cancelled the peace talks twice this year.

In February, he lifted the government ceasefire in a tit-for-tat response to the rebels’ lifting of its own ceasefire and launch of intensified attacks against government forces.

Back channel talks paved for the resumption of the formal peace talks in April.

The fifth round of talks, scheduled for May 27 to June 1, did not happen due to “serious challenges” on both sides.

Government decided not to participate in the talks because of intensified attacks by the New People’s Army, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, following the May 23 declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

The talks were to resume in August, with informal talks scheduled to be held in late July. These, too, were scrapped, although the government did not issue a formal notice scrapping the talks.

During his second State of the Nation Address (Sona) delivered on July 24, the President categorically stated that there will be “no more talks.”

“If they want war, just wait until Marawi. We can better deal with you,” he said.

He said the communist rebels are the government’s “next target” as soon as the armed conflict in Marawi City ends. Fighting in Marawi, which erupted on May 23, has yet to end.

In his latest remark, Duterte urged the NPA rebels to surrender to the authorities.

“I have a proposal for the NPA. Surrender, I will make you soldiers of this Republic. I will make you a CAFGU,” the President said.

There will be no more talks until you declare a ceasefire. Period. PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE to communist rebels