(Eagle News) — Malacanang said that President Rodrigo Duterte would still have to consult with “members of his security cluster” before he could decide to resume peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF).
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella Jr., said that the President would also have to “confer with the other branches of government” which would have to agree with the resumption of peace talks.
The statement was issued Sunday, September 17, after President Duterte met on Saturday with a police officer who was released by the New People’s Army.
Duterte met Senior Police Officer 2 (SPO2) George Cañete Rupinta, a former political prisoner of the NPA at the Matina Enclaves in Davao on September 16.
Rupinta, who is suffering from coronary artery disease (heart ailment), arthritis, and high blood pressure, was abducted on June 9, 2017 at around 4:30 pm at Lupon, Davao Oriental while on his way to meet a barangay kagawad of Tagugpo to verify the alleged illegal logging activity.
He was released last September 15, following coordination among the local government unit of Lupon, Davao Oriental and Exodus for Justice and Peace Movement.
Duterte thanked the Communist Party of the Philippines/NDF and the NPA for the humanitarian gesture of releasing a uniformed personnel taken hostage.
“Wala namang kasalanan ‘to, except to do the duty, law and order,” said President Duterte said.
“If you want to resume the talks, I am not averse to the idea,” he said,
But Abella clarified on Sunday, “To resume talks necessitates President Duterte to consult first with the members of his security cluster, considering the many lives lost, civilian and government property destroyed before returning to the negotiating table with the CPP/NPA/NDFP.”
“The President likewise has to confer with the other branches of government regarding matters require their consent/approval,” he said.
Abella explained that in spite of the President’s position to “protect the nation from violence and terrorism, his fundamental goal is sustainable and lasting peace.”
He said that in the present case, this “begins with addressing the social injustice as the historical root of conflict.”
On Saturday, September 16, President Duterte also said he cannot accede to the previous demand of the communists for the release of all political prisoners.
“There are things which I cannot concede alone because I am not the only one in control of this government. I share power with Congress and the Supreme Court,” he said. (Eagle News Service)
