(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said communist rebels should agree to a ceasefire if they want peace talks to continue.
In a speech at the opening of a bridge in Mindoro Oriental, the President added the rebels should stop what he said were their atrocities that include collecting revolutionary taxes.
“Ni walang isang putok, maski labintador and I would be happy,” Duterte said.
“And so if we can have a middle ground, hindi ko naman sinasarahan lahat because hindi totoo ‘yang forever. Maski sa magkakasintahan, ngayon lang ‘yan. Bukas, ‘pag hawakan na ang kamay wala na,” he added.
The President added he could pay for the basic needs of the rebels’ consultants or “subsidize (their) cost).”
“Palagay natin kung pagkain lang ang ano, I can take care of that,” he said.
The President made the pronouncement after 61 lawmakers signed a House resolution urging the government to resume peace talks.
The President terminated the talks last year following what he said were the atrocities committed by the group despite there being a ceasefire in place.
The government has also asked the court to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front of the Philippines as terrorists.
