Duterte: From the Left, but not a communist

DAVAO CITY – Presidentelect Rodrigo Duterte has reiterated that he is not a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) despite belonging to the socalled Left.

“I came from the Left. You know that, those who are from Davao,” Duterte said during his thanksgiving party here on Saturday. “I belong to the leftcenter but I am not a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines.”

Duterte said he does not agree with armed struggle and the killing of people, especially Filipinos.

Earlier, the incoming president said that while he traces his ideologies to the Left, he was more of a socialist rather than a communist.

Following his victory in the May 9 polls, Duterte extended a hand to the communist rebels for the possible resumption of peace talks between the government and the CPP.

He initially offered four Cabinet posts to the Left: the Departments of Social Welfare and Development ( DSWD), Agrarian Reform ( DAR), Labor and Employment ( DOLE) and Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

He later named University of the Philippines faculty regent Judy Taguiwalo as DSWD secretary, outgoing Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano DAR secretary, and former Anakpawis representative Joel Maglungsod as DOLE undersecretary.

Named DOLE secretary is former justice secretary Silvestre Bello III, who will reportedly travel to Europe with Jesus Dureza, incoming presidential adviser on the peace process, for initial talks with exiled CPP founder and Duterte’s former professor Jose Maria Sison.