Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison warned that the rebels were ready to oust President Rodrigo Duterte anytime after the president ordered the suspension of informal peace talks with the communists to give way to a three-month review of all previous agreements, The Manila Times Online reported on Friday.
Formal talks were supposed to resume on June 28, one week after a “stand-down” agreement, but Duterte changed his mind after meeting with military and police officials last week. He said public consultations must be conducted first.
Duterte also wants the talks to be held in the Philippines and has repeatedly invited Sison to return home from decades in exile in The Netherlands.
But Sison, however, insisted that the talks must be held in a neutral overseas country. He also accused the government of being inconsistent and self-contradictory.
“Duterte continues to kill the peace negotiations. While he does this, the (National Democratic Front, CPP’s political wing) can always stand for peace negotiations not necessarily with the Duterte regime of unbridled terror and greed. The broad united front of patriotic and progressive forces of the people’s war are advancing and can oust the Duterte regime in due time,” said Sison.
Back-channel negotiator Hernani Braganza said in a statement that the government team flew to Utrecht early this week to convey to the NDF Duterte’s earlier decision to postpone the proposed ceasefire and resumption of formal negotiations pending three-month review of all previous agreements.
But he added the suspension did not preclude communications between the two parties if deemed necessary.
He further said that NDF expressed willingness to keep an open mind on Duterte’s decision and wait for the outcome of the government’s review before proceeding with any peace talks.
Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide was quoted to have said that Norway remains strongly committed to trying to facilitate the talks.
