Duterte: No coalition gov’t with communist guerillas

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Thursday said he will not agree on a coalition government with the communist rebels and would prefer an inclusive set up.

This developed as the government starts its peace negotiations with the communist groups.

In a situation briefing in Camp Nakar in Lucena City, the President said he wanted to give the communist insurgents a chance to mend relations with the government.

“We’ll see. Let’s give them a chance. I would like to assure everybody here in this room that I will never, never agree to a coalition government,” he told top military officials during the briefing.

“I am very emphatic that I can have an inclusive government. I have taken them in. I can shake hands and talk about peace, an inclusive government,” Duterte said.

The communist insurgency has been ongoing in the country for several decades and the President said he decided to give peace a chance.

It is not solely his decision to restart the talks, the President said, adding that peace negotiators Jesus Dureza and Silvestre Bello III also agreed to begin the peace process.

Commitment

President Duterte also reiterated his commitment to the Mindanao peace process, underscoring his stance to give the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) a chance.

He assured the military officials in Camp Nakar that he is loyal to the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), saying he rose from the ranks and has been in government for many years.

He asked the military to protect the people, ensure their welfare and work according to the mandate of the Filipino public.

As the AFP leadership asked for additional 20,000 soldiers, he promised to provide 10,000 new infantrymen by the end of the year with a full budget.

Government peace panel chair Silvestre Bello III, meanwhile, said he was saddened over the recent ambush of government troops by members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Davao del Norte.

He expressed disappointment that the NPA had failed to honor the unilateral ceasefire with them, which was declared by President Rodrigo Duterte in his first State of the Nation Address.