Duterte renews threat to scrap talks with Reds

From ABS-CBN (Aug 8): Duterte renews threat to scrap talks with Reds



President Rodrigo Duterte views the remains of one of the soldiers killed by New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Compostela Valley on August 5. Kiwi Bulaclac, Malacanang Photo

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday reiterated his call for the New People's Army (NPA) to stop using landmines or he will scrap peace talks with the communist rebels.

Speaking in front of government troops in Camp General Vicente Lukban in Catbalogan, Samar, Duterte criticized the Communist Party of the Philippines' armed wing for using landmines, while invoking the Geneva Convention to their benefit.

"Sabi ko nga, and I'd like to repeat the statement. When it is to your favor, you want the Geneva Convention. When it is not, then you invoke on it. Mahuli kayo, then you file cases against the soldiers. And yet 'yung truck na pabalik ng kampo, may mga sibilyan nakisakay, or the family of the soldier, binibira niyo ng landmine," he said.

The President warned that he will set aside peace talks if he learns about another landmine attack against government troops.

"I am just giving you, I will not plead for it because I am the President. I'll just state directly. We want peace. Lahat kayo, pamilya ninyo. But do you not use that landmine. 'Pag may narinig ako na isang putok, goodbye 'yan (peace talks). At kayong peace panel, umuwi na kayo dito. 'Wag niyong sayangin, waste your money there. Talk nonsense. Hindi ako nagwa-warning, I'm not giving you an ultimatum, even," Duterte said.

"I'm just saying na kung puputok ulit ang land mine, which is prohibited by the Geneva Convention, I will forego with the peace talks, and forget about it," he added.

The President earlier said the rebels couldn't hold the military accountable for alleged war crimes if the NPA continues to use landmines.

Duterte revoked a unilateral ceasefire with the NPA last week after the insurgents failed to reciprocate within his 24-hour deadline that ended on July 30.

The National Democratic Front (NDF), on the other hand, claimed that the use of "command-detonated" landmines by the NPA does not violate the Geneva Convention.

The CPP has also rejected the "ultimatum" set by Duterte, calling it a "poorly-crafted deflectionary tactic."

The CPP accused Duterte of becoming "militarized," and "obsessed with ending the armed revolution through suppression."

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/08/16/duterte-renews-threat-to-scrap-talks-with-reds