Troops told: Be friendly with Reds

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte told government forces to prevent doing “hostile” actions against the communist rebels, following the ceasefire declared by both the administration and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

In a press conference in Davao City early yesterday, the President said he was joining the CPP in its desire “to seek peace for this nation.”

In concomitant with the end of hostilities and to give way for the resumption of peace talks in Oslo, Norway on August 20 to 26, Duterte urged the state forces to be “friendly” with the rebels.

“In the same manner, I am ordering the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police -- as of today, we have ceasefire -- we avoid hostile actions against each other,” the President said.

“We do not go into antagonistic behavior in front of whoever and as a matter of fact, I am encouraging people in government -- the military and the police - to be friendly with the forces of the revolutionary government of the Communist Party of the Philippines,” he added.

Duterte also expressed hope that even for a short period, it “would go a long, long period of a peaceful resolution of the communist rebellion against the Republic of the Philippines.”

He reiterated that as the country’s leader, his “main task” is to bring peace to all Filipino people, especially the Moro people.

The President then called on the Moro people to join him in his campaign to end the conflict and look for long-lasting peace.

He assured them that he will get rid of the unwanted provisions in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, in order to have successful talks.

Also, the President was hopeful that during his term, “the hatred of war” will stop.

“I am not a President who would enjoy waging war against the citizens of this Republic...It pains me deeply to see people dying for an ideology. We can talk about it peacefully, just like now,” he said.