Sara Duterte suspends localized peace talks with NPA amid GPH-NDF negotiations

From GMA News  (Apr 5): Sara Duterte suspends localized peace talks with NPA amid GPH-NDF negotiations

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Wednesday announced that the local government would suspend its peace talks with the New People’s Army (NPA) while the national government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) resume the fourth round of the negotiations in The Netherlands.

“Let me underscore that my peace offer is aligned with the national government's peace agenda vis-à-vis the 4th round of talks between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the Government of the Philippines peace panel in the Netherlands where a bilateral ceasefire is being passionately pursued,” she said in a statement.

“In view of this recent development, I would like to put on hold, in the meantime, our agreement to conduct localized peace talks here in Davao City,” she added.

“Instead, let us wait and see how the efforts of the national government to end the insurgency problem will unfold.”

When President Rodrigo Duterte cancelled the peace talks with the communist rebels in February, Sara Duterte, his daughter, invited the NPA to talk peace with the local government of Davao City to avoid clashes.

Sara, in her statement on Wednesday, expressed her support for the GPH-NDF peace talks pursued by her father’s administration.

“The Local Government of Davao is also supportive of President Rodrigo Duterte's demand for the declaration of a ceasefire as a primary condition to the peace process,” she said.

However, she said they “share the position that the NPA must end its taxation or extortion activities, must release all captured soldiers/cops, and must cease from claiming so-called revolutionary territories.”

Sara also thanked the NPA for being cooperative when she offered to engage them in local peace talks.

“I would like to extend my gratitude to the New People's Army for promptly responding to my peace offer. At the same time, I would like to apologize to all the stakeholders, especially the people of Davao, for the delay in – what I believe is – our collective pursuit of peace because of my pregnancy,” Sara Duterte said.

“The City Government of Davao remains aggressive in this worthwhile pursuit of a lasting peace, knowing very well that only after we are able to claim peace that we can achieve justice, transform our communities, and empower and liberate our people,” she added.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/605939/news/regions/sara-duterte-suspends-localized-peace-talks-with-npa-amid-gph-ndf-negotiations