Duterte tells Reds: Stop collecting revolutionary tax, free prisoners

From GMA News (Apr 1): Duterte tells Reds: Stop collecting revolutionary tax, free prisoners

President Rodrigo Duterte would only agree to a bilateral ceasefire deal with communist rebels if four conditions are met, including the abolition of the "revolutionary tax" and the release of all their prisoners.

This, Undersecretary Nabil Tan said, was Duterte's reminder to government negotiators who are set to resume their peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front on April 2, Sunday.

"The President has instructed to reiterate to the government panel the terms for a bilateral ceasefire agreement with the CPP-NPA-NDF," Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella on Saturday quoted Tan as saying.

Tan enumerated the following terms:

• There should be a clear parameters or Terms of Reference for the Ceasefire;
• The government shall not recognize any territorial claims of the CPP-NPA-NDF;
• The CPP-NPA-NDF should cease the collection of revolutionary tax and the conduct of extortion and extraction and arson;
• and The CPP-NPA-NDF shall release all prisoners.

The peace negotiations is scheduled to resume its fourth round of talks from April 2 to 6, after a successful backchannel talks in Utrecht.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, chairperson of the GRP peace panel, earlier said the Duterte administration would not reciprocate the unilateral ceasefire earlier promised by the communist rebels.

"Right now, there is no reason to declare a unilateral ceasefire because our President is more interested in obtaining a bilateral ceasefire agreement," said Bello, chairperson of the government peace panel talking peace with the National Democratic Front.

The CPP had earlier said it would issue a unilateral ceasefire not later than March 31, although eventually the month ended without the group issuing one.

The NDF, however, expressed their willingness to be "flexible" on the nature of bilateral ceasefire that is desired by the GRP. The NDFP also expressed its desire to have a bilateral ceasefire deal crafted during the fourth round of peace talks.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/605497/news/nation/duterte-tells-reds-stop-collecting-revolutionary-tax-free-prisoners