Peace talks with CPP should be in PH, Palace says

Peace negotiators from the government (left) and the CPP-NDF-NPA. ANY peace negotiation that would be entered into by the Philippine government and communist rebels should be held in the country, Malacañang stated on Monday, June 18.

“The President emphasized that this is a talk between Filipinos, it should be held in the Philippines,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a Palace press briefing.

“Hindi naman po kinakailangan pa na mangibang-bayan para makipag-usap kapayapaan lamang,” Roque said.

He said the money to be spent for negotiations in Norway could be put to better use in providing for the needs of the CPP-NPA while the peace talks are ongoing.

Meanwhile, Roque clarified that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has not given up on the peace process with the Reds, stressing that he has always given priority to peace negotiations with both Muslim and Communist insurgents.

In moving the schedule of the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), Roque said the President just wanted to make sure that any agreement with the CPP-NPA would be all-inclusive and would pass the tests of both legal and political scrutiny.

“The delay, thus, in the talks with the CPP-NPA is indispensible if we are to have an agreement that will pass these tests,” he noted.

To prove the government’s commitment to push through with the negotiation, Roque said Duterte has directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to file necessary motions in court to free individuals who are expected to participate in the talks.

“Of course, there’s information that these individuals cannot be located anymore even if they did not leave the country for Oslo, Norway… Nonetheless, the President says he will give the process a chance,” he said.

Roque further reiterated the President’s assurance to CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison that he would guarantee his security should he decide to come home to the Philippines to take part in the peace talks.

Meanwhile, the Roque confirmed that there is no stand-down agreement yet between the government and the communist rebels.

Roque said the documents released by the National Democratic Front (NDF) showing the reported progress of the peace talks are yet to be authenticated.

“Wala pong stand-down agreement. Anyway wala pa naman pong resumption of peace talks. I’m sure kung magkakaroon po ng resumption of peace talks, that will be considered,” he noted, as he appealed to the Reds to refrain from preempting the government in making announcements concerning the developments in the peace agreement.

Earlier, Sison accused the government of not sticking to the agreed schedule of ceasefire on June 24 after Peace Secretary Jesus Dureza announced that Malacanang cancelled it to hold consultation with the public.