(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte called on the New People’s Army (NPA) to stop attacking and waging war on government forces if its leaders are serious in pursuing peace talks with the government.
The President expressed his frustration over the continuing attacks by the NPA on government forces despite the ongoing peace talk which leaders of the National Democratic Front (NDF) and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) led by Jose Maria Sison are pushing to resume.
“Would you please stop waging war? Alam mo hindi ko kayo maintindihan. Unang sabi doon sa itaas, si Sison ordered to engage government forces in this struggle… That they changed it so that they will stop until such time matapos itong sa Marawi siege. Kasi walang— ang sabi ko nga eh, there will never be a space for you kung terrorist ka, kayong mga komunista. Wala kayong space diyan sa terorista,” Duterte said.
“In the meantime kung mag-usap tayo in the future, then stop waging war kasi baka itong mga sundalo ayaw na rin makipag-usap,” Duterte said during the 50th Araw ng Davao del Sur held at the Davao del Sur Coliseum in Digos City on Saturday, July 1.
The President said that he does “not control everything” as he advised communist leaders to show their sincerity in pursuing peace.
“Kami, utusan lang kami lahat. We are just co-workers in government basta pulis. But the only reason na medyo mataas ako, but I do not control everything and I cannot control everybody,” he said.
“You decide. Do not create something which is not acceptable also to me and to the guys doing the fighting,” he added.
At the same time, the President renewed his commitment to bring peace to the country, reiterating his intention to negotiate with major rebel groups, including the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front.
However, he said the government will never negotiate with the ISIS-inspired Maute group that occupied Marawi City.
The President also sympathized with the soldiers fighting for the city’s liberation from the Maute group.
He said he always prays that the war will end soon because he does not like people dying, and vowed that the military offensive will continue until the last terrorist is taken out. (with PND report)