(Eagle News) — Malacanang assured Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair Jose Maria Sison that he will not be arrested if he comes to the country to participate in peace talks.
This was according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., who stressed the 60-day timeframe set by President Rodrigo Duterte for the revived peace talks with the CPP-New People’s Army. Roque also said that this timeframe could be the “last chance” for peace with the communists.
Roque assured Sison’s safety should he return to the Philippines to talk peace with the government.
“The President has given his word that he will not be apprehended while in the Philippines… His liberty will be guaranteed by the President,” Roque said.
But he clarified that President Duterte had not agreed to any other conditions set by the CPP apart from guaranteeing the Communist leader’s protection.
“I don’t know if he’s in the position to provide for conditions,” he said, referring to Sison’s recent statement that significant advances in the peace talks should first be attained before he comes home.
“What the President said was if peace talks will resume, he’s welcome to come home, the President will assure his security and the fact that he will not be arrested. Beyond that, the President has not acceded to any further terms,” Roque stated.
-Last chance for peace with Reds-
The Palace spokesperson also noted how so many years had been spent talking peace with the CPP-NPA
“The problem is we’ve been talking peace with them for years and years and years. Walang katapusan. So I think the President said that this is our last chance,” Roque said in a press briefing.
He said that the 60-day or two-month period set by President Duterte for the peace talks with the CPP-NPA was just enough to achieve the parties’ shared agenda of addressing the root cause of the rebellion.
“I don’t think there’s a divergence of views on the root causes of rebellion; it is poverty. So if the government and the CPP-NPA will agree to address the root causes, then it should not even take 60 days,” Roque said.
“We have a common platform. Mas maginhawang buhay para sa lahat, mas komportableng buhay para sa lahat,” he said.
Roque noted that the 60-day period would start as soon as both sides clearly agree upon the specific conditions for the revival of the peace talks.
“No target… as far as I know, both have to agree to resume peace talks and the 60-day period should be reckoned from that day,” he said. (with a PND report)