Duterte to resume peace talks with left

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jul 6): Duterte to resume peace talks with left

President Rodrigo Duterte is keen to resume again the peace talks between the government and the communist group, Communist Party of the Philippine/ National Democratic Front/New People’s Army.

In his visit to the 64th founding anniversary of Hagonoy town, President Duterte said that he wants to end one of the longest insurgencies in the world, which is for him a fight as a matter of principle.

President Duterte emphasized that he is hurt everyday as he read his daily briefer containing list of dead soldiers and even dead members of the New People’s Army, because he said these are all Filipinos.

Duterte urged the communists to be sincere in the peace talks.

“You sincerely do it; any modality na tinuod jud (that is true). You do not just withdraw because we cannot agree on certain agenda. Manluod mo mosibat dayon tas mobalik napud ug storya (When you get disappointed, you suddenly went away then comes back and talk to us once again.)

He likened the communist group to an electric fan vacillating left to right and right to left.

“First you said that during the Martial Law declaration, suko mo (you are angry) then you ordered your troops, the NPAs, to engage us, government forces, actively. Then you changed your mind, and said that you are going to cooperate.”

Addressing his former teacher and Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison, he said, “Sir, you are sir. You are not dying but you are seriously sick. Would you be happy to see and to die that there is peace in this country before you finally close your eyes?”

On Tuesday, Secretary Silvestre Bello III announced in a press briefing in Malacanang that the talks will resume on August.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2871499323906/duterte-to-resume-peace-talks-with-left