Call for peace 60 solons ask gov’t to resume talks with Reds
Nearly 60 congressmen or about a fifth of the membership of the House of Representatives crossed party lines and asked President Rodrigo Duterte to resume the stalled peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
The lawmakers manifested this call via House Resolution (HR) No. 1803, which was signed by at least 58 representatives from across various factions and political parties.
Presidential adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza said that a “de- sired enabling environment” conducive to peace talks must first be evident before the government considers the resumption of negotiations with the communist rebels.
“We thank the House and welcome the resolution for such interest in the continuation of the peace process. Such a resolution, however, is not as necessary as the presence of
an enabling environment conducive to the resumption. This will be the sole determining factor. The collective voice from Congress can very well contribute to that desired enabling environment,” he said.
Asked if the House resolution would convince the President to jumpstart the peace talks, Dureza said: “Only an enabling environment conductive to negotiations will convince us.”
Early this month, President Duterte said he might “reconsider” his position on the peace talks with the communists if they forge a ceasefire pact with the government.
Bayan Muna Party-List Rep. Carlos Zarate, one of the vocal supporters of the peace talks, expressed optimism that the stalled peace negotiations between the government and the Reds would be jumpstarted anew.
“This is very encouraging and we are calling on the Duterte administration to heed this call for a just peace. We are also urging our other colleagues to also co-author the resolution as there is a more urgent need and reason now to continue the GRP-NDFP peace process in the midst of escalating clashes between the military and the communist rebels,” said Zarate, a member of the leftist Makabayan bloc.
Signatories of the resolution included solons from the Supermajority, the Minority, and the two independent blocs from House, which are the Magnificent Seven and the Makabayan. The House currently has 292 members.
“We are calling on all peace-loving people to intensify our earnest call for the government and NDFP to give the quest for a just and lasting peace a chance. This is not the time to abandon it, for the greater interest of our country and people,” he further said.
‘Most cowardly’ President Duterte has branded Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison as the “most cowardly of all cowards” for seeking a coalition government with communists in exchange for a peace agreement.
The President said Sison wanted to join government and create a “politburo” or a committee where both government and communist officials would share power.
“Sison is the most cowardly of all cowards. He was my idol when I was still a student. But now, whenever I talk to him, he tells me that he wants to join the government. We are like a politburo if that’s the case…They want a committee (where) they’re on the other side while I’m on the government side,” he said during the 16th anniversary rites of the Supreme Tribal Council for Peace and Development Inc. in Davao City last Friday.
In his speech, Duterte also lashed out at the communist rebels for abandoning their children and following Sison to their deaths as if he was a god.
“Look at what you did not just to your fellow person, but to the person whom you gave birth to. Son of a b*tch and then you leave them. What’s worse is that you join the NPA and die for it. You will lose yourself to nothing. Then you follow Sison whom you’ve treated as your God,” he said.
Reds in PNP
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is willing to open its doors for communist rebels who would return to the government fold and want to serve as law enforcers.
But PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said those interested should meet the necessary requirements to enter the police profession, such as a college degree, height, and age limits.
“If they are sincere, if they want to be a policeman and they are qualified, why not,” said dela Rosa.
The Chief PNP’s statement came after President Duterte was quoted saying that the police and military are open to the rebel returnees as part of the effort to convince them to change.
Dela Rosa said that they have no problem accommodating the rebel returnees especially if this would boost the law enforcement function of the PNP, especially when it comes to antiinsurgency operations.
If it would happen, the scenario of the PNP absorbing rebel returnees is not something new.
“In fact, we have a lot of former NPA rebels who joined the police force after their surrender,” said Dela Rosa. (With a report from Aaron Recuenco)