Duterte invites CPP's Sison to the PHL for peace talks

President Rodrigo Duterte said on Saturday that he was inviting Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison to the Philippines for peace discussions.

The President added he will allow a 60-day "window" for guerrilla fronts to lay down their arms without having to worry about being molested by state forces.

"Ngayon, bago lang, I created a small window. Sixty days. Proposal ko kay Sison, hindi ako magpunta doon. Ang pinag-awayan natin, ang Pilipinas, pumunta ka dito. Ako mag-bigay ng pamasahe, I will pay for all your...pagkain," he said.

"Ito kayong mga guerilla front, you stay in one place, mag-kampo na kayo, dalhin ninyo 'yang baril 'yan sa loob ng kampo ninyo. You seek to tell us where you are, you can go out of the camp, minus the arms. But I will give you the complete freedom to move. Wala akong molestiyahin. Order the military and the police to be nice to you," he added.

The President appealed for the Communist insurgents to "take advantage" of the 60 days.

Duterte opened the possibility of resuming peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) earlier this month after scrapping them in last November over continued attacks by New People's Army gunmen on government troops and civilians. — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News