Davao mayor open to 'localized peace talks' with Reds

From the Philippine News Agency (May 30): Davao mayor open to 'localized peace talks' with Reds

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio welcomed moves to hold "localized peace talks" with the New People’s Army (NPA) as long as the rebels will put aside their firearms and stop their offensive operations.

She issued this statement Tuesday morning after the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) fifth round of talks in The Netherlands hit a snag, as a result of the Communist Party of the Philippines's call for the NPA rebels to step up attacks on government forces in opposition to the declaration of martial law.

The mayor said she is "setting aside personal feelings towards the rebels over her pursuit towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict."

“I have no choice... I'll push things that I think can make the city better and (one) of them is the localized peace talks,” she said.

She emphasized on the need for the rebels to set side their firearms and stop offensive operations before any localized peace talks can start.

“I am always open, but we cannot sit down if they continue their offensive operations against the people, against the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” she said.

The mayor stressed it would be hard to start talking with the rebels when there are still people killed due to the "indiscriminate planting of improvised explosive device (IED)."

Duterte-Carpio said the NPA should also show its sincerity by stopping attacks while talks are ongoing. She added she has been continuously receiving reports of atrocities in the hinterlands.

Earlier, the mayor even offered to talk with the NPA rebels and jobs to the NPA as an organization.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/992082