(Eagle News) — Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison said on Wednesday the National Democratic Front of the Philippines was open and ready to resume peace talks with the government.
Sison made the statement a day after President Rodrigo Duterte said both parties could talk peace if the communist rebels stopped committing what he said were atrocities, and agreed to a ceasefire.
According to Sison, the NDFP is “sincere in striving to negotiate and forge with the (Government of the Philippines) comprehensive agreements on social, economic and political reforms to address the roots of the armed conflict and lay the basis of a just and lasting peace,” and was ready to meet with the government’s negotiating panel as soon as possible.
“We hope that from here on we can make steady and significant advances on the road of realizing peace in accordance with the people´s demand for full national independence, democracy, social justice, economic development and cultural progress,” he said.
In his speech in Oriental Mindoro, President Duterte suggested a “middle ground” where the government could resume peace talks with the communist group, which he labeled a terrorist organization in previous speeches.
“I’d like to address myself first to the NPAs. Alam mo, hindi tayo magkalaban. Gusto ko mang lumaban, eh ang puso ko, sinasabi niya ‘ang kapwa mo Pilipino pinapatay mo,’ he said.
