Duterte: Peace talks with Reds may resume in July

Formal peace negotiations between the government and the communist rebels may resume in July, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday night.

Speaking before newly elected Central Visayas barangay captains in Lapu-Lapu City, Duterte renewed his commitment to restore peace and order in the country.

“Istoryahon nako ang mga rebelde [I will be talking to the rebels]. I’m talking to [Jose Maria] Sison. We will start the talks maybe [in] July,” the President said, referring to the Communist Party of the Philippines founder.

Some reports said the talks could resume as early as June 28 with an interim peace deal expected to be signed.

Duterte also called on the communist rebels to give up their arms should peace talks with the government succeed.

“Ug di mo mu-decomission sa inyong armas, wala’y mahitabo [If there will be no decommissioning of firearms, nothing will happen],” the President said in his native Cebuano.

Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, chairperson of the government negotiating panel, have yet to respond to GMA News Online’s request for comment as of posting time.

Duterte has invited Sison, who has been living in self-imposed exile in The Netherlands, to return to the Philippines so they can directly negotiate peace and oversee the talks during the 60-day period set by the chief executive himself.

Sison said he was willing to come home provided there would be significant development in the peace negotiations and his lawyers are satisfied with legal and security precautions.

Duterte has repeatedly assured Sison that he will be safe should he return to the Philippines and that he will be free to leave “unhampered and unfettered” even if the negotiations fell through.

The peace talks had been scuttled last November, which the government blamed on continued attacks by the rebels on government troops and civilians. — MDM, GMA News