‘TOO LATE’ | Duterte doesn’t want successor to renew peace talks with CPP-NPA

February 10, 2022 , 11:00 AM

By Beatrice Puente

(February 10, 2022) – President Rodrigo Duterte dissuaded his successor from engaging with the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing in the next administration due to his belief that peace negotiations no longer have any place between the government and the rebel movement.

Duterte, who terminated peace talks in 2017, said part of his misgivings about the presidential candidates in the 2022 elections is the potential move to rekindle the truce discussions that advocates tout as a necessary condition to attaining peace, especially in the countryside.

“Those running now are qualified to be president. I hope so, but, okay naman ang tingin ko sa kanila except for a few misgivings about the danger of falling into the hands (or) getting into the trap with the communists kasi para sa’kin, it’s too late to be talking about peace talks,” said Duterte in his late-night public address aired on Tuesday.

Last year, Duterte maintained that he was “glad” to have cancelled the peace negotiations as he blamed the New People’s Army (NPA) for the killings that have continued to happen over the years. He reiterated that the armed rebels cannot expect the resumption of peace talks under his administration anymore.

Most of the presidential bets have expressed interest in pursuing peace negotiations with communist guerrillas. It includes Vice President Leni Robredo, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Sen. Ping Lacson, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and labor leader Leody de Guzman.

Bongbong Marcos Jr. has not expressed his stance yet. Duterte has accused the late dictator’s son of being a supporter of communist groups but he offered no evidence.

“‘Yang pagtakbo ni Marcos, sasabihin ko ang rason kung bakit hindi ako makasuporta sa kanya at kung bakit na maging, kagaya kay Leni, diyan nga ako takot. Mga pro-communist ‘yan,” said Duterte in an interview with a pro-administration vlogger last November, citing no proof.

De Guzman, the standard-bearer of Partido Lakas ng Masa, believes that communist groups continue waging their protracted fight for more than five decades because of continued injustice in the country.

“Naniniwala ako na humahawak sila (NPA) ng armas hindi naman (dahil) natutuwa lang silang maghawak ng armas, kung hindi dahil may malalim silang ipinaglalaban na problema ng ating lipunan,” said de Guzman in a forum last week.

Duterte has repeatedly vowed to crush the communist insurgency but that goal appears bleak, with just three months left in his term.

“I have done everything talagang just to put them (NPA) at bay na hindi sila makaporma,” said Duterte.

Up to now, Duterte has not expressed support for any presidential candidate. His daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, is paired with Marcos but the tough-talking leader has remained tight-lipped on who he would endorse.

“I am not into supporting anybody right now. But if I think there’s a need to talk and to make a noise because hindi naman—pero you just put in peril ‘yung gobyerno mismo,” said Duterte.

(PM)

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