PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte and militant leaders met in Malacañang Tuesday evening to discuss what some considered glaring differences on major issues—like stalled peace talks and martial law—with one attendee calling the meeting “somewhat tense.”
The two-hour meeting, only four days before the President would deliver the second State of the Nation Address of his six-year presidency, was attended by leaders of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and other militant leaders from Mindanao.
They were joined by National Anti-Poverty Commission Convenor Liza Maza who helped arrange the meeting.
There was no immediate release or statement from Malacañang on the meeting.
Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr., in a statement after the meeting, said unlike previous meetings between the two sides, “the atmosphere was somewhat tense, more serious and revealed glaring differences on major issues.”
Reyes added: “After the meeting, it was clear why there should be nationwide mass protests during the Sona [on Monday] and that the people must persevere in the fight for genuine change.”
According to Reyes, the President was bent on extending martial law, which he imposed in Mindanao following the siege on Marawi City by the Maute terrorist group in May.
Reyes said: “We have consistently opposed it. He [Duterte] said it was not intended to target the Left. The Mindanao activists said that was not reality on the ground. They related how martial law is being used to militarize communities and attack lumad schools.
“Several communities have been displaced as a result. Lumad leaders showed the President pictures and other documentation.”
On the issue of the stalled peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the President echoed the line of his security cluster that there should first be a prolonged ceasefire before there could be any talk of reforms.
“We reiterated our position that the peace talks must continue because it is in the interest of the people and that the surest way to achieve peace is through socio-economic and political reforms. It appears that the fate of the talks and the people’s desire for a just peace will again be held hostage by the ceasefire issue,” Reyes said.
According to Reyes, the President gave no commitment on the issue of militarization of communities, saying this was a reality in the civil war.
“For our part, a condition of extended martial law can only mean that military abuses and attacks will increase,” said Reyes.
While there remain openings and agreements in principle on several issues, these will still require firm government commitment and militant struggle by the people, he said.
“During the meeting, we sought to find common ground on the issue of labor contractualization, free tuition for State Universities and Colleges, land reform and the issue of destructive mining. There is no clear indication that the President will fulfill his pledge of upholding an independent foreign policy by abrogating the Visiting Forces Agreement any time soon,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said Duterte was responsive to calls for the release of elderly and sickly political prisoners and received personal letters and appeals for them.
“We again informed the President of the upcoming Sona rallies. He said he will not stop these and will allow protesters to air their demands near Batasan,” said Reyes.
In the statement, Bayan said: “We thank President Rodrigo Duterte for taking time to meet with Bayan leaders in Malacanang last July 18, 2017. We sought a meeting to inform the President of the planned nationwide Sona protest actions on July 24 and to relay to him 20 urgent people’s demands.”
On July 23, Bayan said participants for the Sona rally would begin arriving in Quezon City and hold vigils near Commonwealth Avenue.
“On July 22, we are calling on the people to gather at Batasan to protest the Congress special session to railroad the extension of Martial Law in Mindanao,” said Reyes.
Apart from Reyes, the other attendees included former Rep. Neri Colmenares. Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao, Rep. Sarah Elago of Kabataan, Jerome Adonis, Kilusang Mayo Uno Secretary-General, Antonio Flores of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Gabriela secretary- general Joms Salvador, lumad leaders Michelle Campos and Eufemia Cullamat, and Mindanao activists led by Sheena Duazon of Bayan SMR.
The statement did not say who attended on the side of the government, apart from the President.