MANILA, Philippines July 28 – Speaking before the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, President Rodrigo Duterte narrated how his father—also a soldier—retired in Mindanao seeking greener pastures. The President also explained why he declared a unilateral ceasefire with the New Peoples Army (NPA).
“It is not my decision alone. It is the decision of the cabinet. Of course, General (Secretary Hermogenes) Esperon and Secretary Delfin Lorenzana are automatically members of the cabinet,” Duterte said, referring to his National Security Adviser and Defense Secretary.
“I am a President that seeks peace with everyone. My job as President is not to look for trouble but to see to it that there are no conflicts in the Philippines.”
The President reiterated his vision of reconciliation for the country as the conflict in Mindanao has been ongoing since the early 1970s and the communist-led rebellion has been around for more than four decades. “I have to talk to the MI (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) and to the MN (Moro National Liberation Front), to Nur (Misuari) and (Alhadj) Murad and they are ready to talk about peace. This has gone too far and for so long. There has been too many lives lost on both sides,” the President said.
The planned peace talks between the government, the MNLF, MILF, and the NPA should take place later within the year. “I have no other dream but to bring peace to my country, if possible. I plead peace with everybody. I do not want any single loss either on their side or the government if possible,” according to Duterte.
Although the President extends a hand of peace to the MNLF and the MILF, he also wants to be certain that neither group has any ties to the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) as weapons wielded by the ASG have been traced back to rogue members of both the MNLF and MILF, as the prospect of peace will not be possible. (PND)