(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte assured the Norwegian special envoy to the peace process between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), that the Philippine government is still committed to achieving a “just and lasting peace” in the country, especially in Mindanao.
The President met with the Norwegian special envoy, Idun Tvedt, during a courtesy call at the Presidential Guest House in Davao City on Thursday, February 15.
The meeting lasted for more than an hour, according to a Palace release.
But in the meeting, President Duterte expressed his strong stance against Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Maria “Joma” Sison’s demand to form a coalition government.
The President stressed that such setup was “unconstitutional” and would only result in chaos throughout the country.
For her part, Tvedt conveyed the commitment of the Norwegian Government to assist the Philippines in its peace process with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
She expressed her admiration to the Duterte administration for showing their commitment to attain peace in the country and thanked the President for his warm welcome.
Tvedt was accompanied by Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Erik Førner, Deputy Chief of Mission Kristian Netland and Senior Advisor William Hovland.
On the Philippine side, in attendance were Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza and Department of Foreign Affairs Acting Assistant Secretary Robert Ferrer.
Earlier, on February 13, in Cebu City, the President also said that the communist rebels are “too proud” (mayabang) which is why he is talking to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) regarding the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
“Ang NPA, masyadong mayabang, akala mo sino. But ang MI, MN, pumayag. So we are negotiating for that BBL,” he said.
The Royal Norwegian Government hosted and facilitated the peace talks of the government with the CPP-National Democratic Front which the Philippine government formally ended on November 23 last year after a series of attacks by the New People’s Army (NPA) — the armed wing of the CPP-NDF– against the police and the military.
“I no longer want to talk, especially after their last ambush of a police officer where a 4-month-old girl who was in the arms of the mother [was killed],” said President Duterte then.
NPA members ambushed a police vehicle in Barangay Tikalaan, Talakag, Bukidnon, on Nov. 11, 2017 killing the baby who was on board a Toyota Fortuner that was behind the police vehicle.
(with a PND report)
