Dureza: President has no conditions in resuming peace talks with Reds
President Duterte is not setting conditions for the resumption of the peace talks with the local communists, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza said yesterday.
Duterte clarified this in his speech in Cagayan de Oro, saying the President has expressed his desire to
have a genuine ceasefire with the New People’s Army (NPA), have all captives freed, and for the rebels to stop their extortion activities before he reconsiders resuming the peace talks.
But Dureza explained that these are just Duterte’s wishes and it does not mean that he was setting preconditions for the resumption of the peace talks.
“Hindi iyan condition dahil ‘yung peace negotiations wala dapat conditionalities, eh. Walang preconditions sa negotiating table, ’di ba (Those are not conditions because peace negotiations should not have conditionalities),” he said over Radyo ng Bayan.
“Otherwise, lumalabas na parang dominante ’yung isa, o ’yung kabila, nagre-respond lamang dahil may mga condition (it would just mean that one is dominant over the other and the other is just responding because there are conditions),” he added.
However, Dureza said that their next steps would always come from the President.
“I heard the President say those words in Cagayan de Oro kaya tignan natin (so let’s see) what would be the specific instructions to us,” he said.
“Alam ng Pangulo na madaming challenges, kaya maraming (The President knows that there are many challenges so there are a lot of) factors din that will have to be considered,” he added. Dureza also reiterated that the road to lasting peace is not a paved one.
“Hindi madali itong peace talks. Akala kasi ng lahat napakadali. Hindi, ah. Mahirap (The peace talk is not easy. Everybody thinks that it is simple but it’s not. It’s a difficult one),” he said.
Duterte decided to cancel the peace talks with the communist rebels over the brutal killing of three soldiers by alleged members of the NPA.
The President also said that he will not resume the peace talks unless there are compelling reasons that would affect the interest of the Filipino people.
Dureza said the President’s wishes could well provide the so-called compelling reasons that would trigger the resumption of the peace negotiations.
The Palace had earlier revealed four “compelling reasons” which may result in the resumption of peace talks. These include the cessation of the so-called “revolutionary tax,” ambushes on military personnel, burning of property, and provocative and hostile actions.
Last Friday, Duterte said the peace talks will not resume while the hearts of the rebels are “full of hate” since their actions, which include the killings, indicate hatred.
“How can you do that to a Filipino? You know, that indicates hatred. If they are like that, you are full of hate. Then we cannot talk about peace,” he said.