DUTERTE TALKS PEACE IN JULY, SHUNS MARTIAL LAW
‘Radical changes’ ahead to include transfer of corruption-prone agencies under the Office of the President’s direct supervision, President Duterte announces in Cebu
The revival of peace negotiations between the government panel and communist leaders may formally begin by mid-July, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday, June 7.
During his visit to Cebu, the President also reiterated he will not declare martial law nationwide, saying it is “not feasible” and would only “divide the nation.”
Speaking before newly-elected village captains in Cebu, the President said he was in talks with Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison for the impending resumption of a peace dialogue.
“Let’s see what develops in the days to come,” he said.
Formal peace talks between the government’s peace negotiators and consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines are expected to resume as soon as the interim peace agreement is signed by both parties before the end of June.
The interim peace deal will pave the way for a formal ceasefire between state forces and the communists’ armed wing, New People’s Army (NPA), within the 60-day deadline for forging a final peace agreement.
In November 2017, Duterte signed Proclamation 360, scrapping the peace talks with the communist party, following NPA rebels’ persistent attacks against government troops.
The President, however, gave the communists “another last chance” as he renewed his commitment to seek peace and order.
“I have invited Sison to come home. He has agreed. I gave him a window of two months, very small. It will be a make-or-break situation for us,” Duterte earlier said.
In an interview after the inaugural ceremony for the Mactan Cebu International Airport Terminal 2 in Lapu-Lapu City last Thursday, Duterte was asked whether expanding martial law is among the “radical changes” he is planning to implement to address rising crime in the country and corruption in government.
“(I) might think of something else, except martial law,” he said.
“We had already the experience of (the Marcos dictatorship). What really made it so unpopular were the abuses committed, unbridled, unfettered. That cannot happen in my time. I will not simply allow it,” he added.
Martial law remains in effect over Mindanao until the end of 2018, as an offshoot of the fivemonth armed conflict that devastated Marawi City last year.
‘Radical changes’
The entire country, meanwhile, is still under a state of national emergency, which the President declared in September 2016 following the bombing in Davao. This has not been lifted.
“There might (be radical changes in government offices) which are prone to corruption that will be placed directly under the Office of the President,” Duterte reiterated.
He declined to identify the agencies “out of respect” for the Cabinet members involved, but that he would announce the names of these agencies during the next Cabinet meeting.
In a bid to address criminality, illegal drugs, and corruption in government, Duterte said on Wednesday, June 6, that he would use his executive powers “to the hilt.”
Earlier Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said that President Duterte’s intent to implement “radical changes” in the coming days stemmed from his frustration over the spate of criminality in the country.
“It seems to me that the President recognized the room for improvement as far as the fight against criminality is concerned,” Duterte’s spokesperson said. “We are gearing up, we are doing better in the fight against criminality.”
I have invited (CPP founder Jose Maria) Sison to come home. He has agreed. I gave him a window of two months, very small. It will be a makeor-break situation for us
PRESIDENT DUTERTE