QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) – Malacañang said that it will not hinder initiatives of local government units to conduct localized peace talks with Communist rebels.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said that local government units have a degree of autonomy and they are free to promote localized peace talks with the rebels.
“We have local autonomy so the peace talks can proceed on a local level if the local government units should want or desire to proceed,” Roque said in a press briefing in Davao City.
The statement was made after Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said that she would continue peace talks with the rebels in Davao City.
“Our work and the work of the national government is not incompatible, especially now that they will not pursue the peace talks,” Carpio said.
“There is no paper yet. Everything is just verbal. Legally, we can still continue to negotiate and talk if the NPA still wants to talk with our DC-PEACE,” Carpio said.
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