(Eagle News) — Secretary Jesus Dureza announced on Wednesday the cancellation of “all planned meetings” with communist rebels in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive there would no longer be peace talks with them.
Dureza, presidential adviser on the peace process, made the announcement also after Duterte said he would classify the New People’s Army, the Communist Party of the Philippines’ armed group, as a terrorist group.
“There will be no peace negotiations anymore with the CPP/NPA/NDF until such time as the desired enabling environment conducive to a change in the government’s position becomes evident. We will closely watch the developments,” Dureza added.
While noting that this was an “unfortunate development in our work for peace,” Dureza said “we take guidance from the President’s recent announcements and declarations.”
He said “recent tragic and violent incidents all over the country committed by the communist rebels left the president with no other choice but to arrive at this decision.
“Never before have we all reached this far in our negotiations with them. President Duterte has taken unprecedented steps and has walked the so-called extra mile to bring peace. However, the communist party and its armed elements have not shown reciprocity,” Dureza said.
In making the announcement, Dureza thanked the Royal Norwegian Government, the third party facilitator of the talks.
“We have expressed our deep gratitude to the Royal Norwegian Government for its strong support as we also expressed to their officials our regrets for this turn of events,” he said.
“Despite this setback, (hopefully only temporary) we remain steadfast and undeterred in our unrelenting journey for sustainable and just peace. I now call on everyone: ‘Let’s all stay the course together,'” he added.