Jobs, peace offer still on the table, says Davao City mayor

DESPITE THE recent spate of attacks staged by the New People’s Army (NPA), Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said her offer of a localized peace talks and jobs for the communist rebels are still on the table. “The local government of Davao City is always open because we believe that discussions and talks will be the solution,” she said in a statement, “But it really depends on the members of the NPA.” Ms. Duterte-Carpio also stressed that the offer is not for individual members but for the entire NPA units operating within Davao City. She earlier said that the local government’s support of the peace negotiations is anchored on the Duterte administration’s peace agenda. At the same time, the mayor said she is fully supportive of the military action against the NPAs. “There will be no pause in the operations against the NPA in Davao City, in fact, the police and the military will strengthen their operations against them,” she said.