Exiled CPP founder Jose Ma. Sison
Incoming president Rodrigo Duterte will release all political prisoners if leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines and National Democratic Front agree to come home for peace talks.
Duterte said coming home for the negotiations will be his only precondition.
He said they can agree on when, where and how the process of the rebel leaders' homecoming, including CPP founder Jose Maria Sison, and how to conduct the talks.
“Kailangan ko lang (All I need is) yes or no,” Duterte told reporters Monday night.
“I might even decide to free all of them before the talks (could formally start),” he added.
He emphasized the release of the prisoners, including couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, allegedly the CPP chairman and finance officer, respective, is part of confidence-building measures. The Tiamzons were captured in Cebu in 2014.
He stressed that if the rebel leaders are confident his government would work for everybody especially the poor, “I can welcome them back.”
“For as long as we deal peace in good faith. (Talking) peace must be in good faith, wala akong agenda basta huwag lang akong lokohin (I do not have an agenda just do not fool me),” Duterte said.
The peace negotiations with the communists have been stalled since 2004 over several issues, including the government’s refusal to release what the rebels maintain are 14 detained consultants of the NDF peace panel who are facing criminal charges.
http://interaksyon.com/article/128170/duterte-to-release-political-prisoners-if-rebel-leaders-come-home-for-peace-talks
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