President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday stood firm in his decision to hold the peace talks with the communist rebels in Philippine soil and expressed his desire to end Asia’s longest-running insurgency.
He made the statement during the 81st anniversary of the Government Service Insurance System in Pasay City, where he gave Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison a 60-day window to finally end the communist rebellion.
The peace talks with Sison, which was scheduled on June 28 but then moved to July, was again marred by a war of words between him and Duterte.
Duterte promised to talk to the communists so the government and the rebels could forge a peace covenant.
“I’m talking to Sison, but he’s being rude,” Duterte said.
The government peace panel and the rebels began holding back-channel discussions about going back to the negotiating table after Duterte terminated the peace talks in November last year.
Duterte wants to hold the peace negotiations in the Philippines and not elsewhere.
“Why should I talk outside? We are talking about our country, my country, their country,” he said.
Duterte, who tried to win the rebels’ trust through a series of confidence-building measures and the promise of giving them land and jobs, assured Sison’s safety should he come home.
“Why would I go to another place? Let’s talk here. I guaranteed him safety and security for the duration of the talks. I gave him a small window,” Duterte said.
“Let’s talk for 60 days. In that period you come home, I will pay for your expenses and if after the two months period nothing, then I will see to it that you go out of the Philippines safely,” Duterte said.
“But I will assure you, do not ever, ever come back to this country ever again.”