(Eagle News) — Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday, June 21, threw his support behind President Rodrigo Duterte’s proposal to hold peace talks with the Communist rebels in the Philippines instead.
“To me, it makes a lot of sense. I have actually been asking myself for the longest time why we need a third country facilitator and venue to talk peace with our fellow Filipinos,” Lacson said.
According to Lacson, “for one, it entails more expenses.”
“Not to mention inconvenience,” Lacson said.
According to Lacson, he doesn’t think that “their self-proclaimed ‘belligerency status’ will suffer or get affected if we do not involve a third, neutral party or country.”
He said those in self-exile could just be given a safe conduct of passage so they could move freely.
“Therefore, I fully support President Duterte in his assertion that we hold the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front and other rebel groups right here in our country,” Lacson said.
The President has time and again invited Sison, who is in exile in the Netherlands, to come home so both sides could talk.
He gave the assurance Sison would be safe and secure, and even volunteered to shoulder his fare and accommodation expenses.