President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday discussed the possibility of reviving the stalled peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines but has laid down three “requests” before any negotiation can proceed.
Speaking at the wake of two soldiers who were killed in an encounter with NPA rebels on Feb. 27 and 28 in Misamis Oriental, the president said that he is willing to talk in pursuit of peace, but asked for the sincerity of the rebels leading the longest communist insurgency in Asia.
“I’m ready as long as we communicate well. I’m ready to resume the ceasefire again, but this time I want it to be sincere. Back then, there was a ceasefire but my soldiers were killed. I’m ready to resume the ceasefire again as long as it is working towards peace,” the President told reporters in Cagayan de Oro City.
When asked on the future of the peace talks, Duterte said that his plans would include three requests to the rebel group: a genuine ceasefire done in sincerity, the release of all soldiers and civilians being held captive by the NPA, and a stop to NPA extortion activities.
“They have to release all policemen, army, everyone from the government. They should release them all. Second, they should stop asking for revolutionary tax. Third, they should stop asking for things. They’re burning a lot of things now and we’ll never meet each other half way if that’s the case.”
After three soldiers were killed in Bukidnon last Feb. 3 sustaining 76 gunshot wounds between them—or each soldier getting at least 24—Duterte insisted that he can’t continue talking about peace with the communists if they continue to exhibit hate.
“There would be ceasefires here and there, but my soldiers are getting killed. And these soldiers that were killed were shot 73 times, 73 wounds. That’s what I disliked the most. How can you do that to a Filipino?” Duterte said.
“You know, that indicates hatred. If they continue being like that, you are full of hate, then we cannot talk about peace. There’s something inside you, there is hate. How can it be possible na that we will talk if that’s inside your heart? Isang bala lang,” he added.
Duterte said he feels very deeply about the turmoil, adding that no one would win in this kind of war.
“It pains me to see Filipinos fighting against fellow Filipinos. I just want peace,” he said.
“For me, no one will win. If we Filipinos fight against fellow Filipinos, nobody wins. The nation, the Philippines loses,” he added.
Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza on Saturday, meanwhile, said that he has yet to receive instructions from Duterte on the possible resumption of peace talks.
He, however, clarified the President is not imposing any conditions for the talks to resume. He said these were just the President’s “wishes.”
“There should be no preconditions in the negotiating table. Otherwise, it would look like one party is dominant and the other is just responding,” Dureza told state-run dzRB radio.
The ill-fated shooting happened soon after the Communist Party of the Philippines—through its armed wing New People‘s Army—terminated its unilateral interim ceasefire on Wednesday. The CPP accused the Duterte administration of failing to release more than 400 political prisoners.
Two days after, Duterte announced the lifting of the government’s unilateral ceasefire with the New People’s Army and that he had informed Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año of his decision.