DILG to push for ‘localized’ peace talks with Reds

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will advocate "localized" peace talks with communist rebels if the peace talks between the national government and the Communist Party of the Philippines do not push through.

A statement on Sunday said that DILG officer-in-charge Eduardo M. Año believes this approach would "make the peace process more participatory and responsive to the specific needs and situation of local communities and will have more impact on people on the ground."

Malacañang earlier said that the government might resort to this approach.

"Localized peace talks may be pursued by local government units provided they do not concede any aspect of governance and pursuant to guidelines to be agreed upon by the Cabinet cluster on security," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said last Wednesday following a command conference President Rodrigo Duterte held with Armed Forces and Philippine National Police officials.

CPP founding chairperson Jose Maria Sison, however, said that localized talks would not work.

"This is an old trick that was proven to be ineffective. Localized peace talks are stage plays. It will not work," Sison said at a press conference via Skype on Thursday.

"You have false peace negotiations when you have localized peace talks."

The government called off peace talks with the CPP-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NDF) that had been scheduled to resume on June 28, saying that President Rodrigo Duterte wanted to hold more consultations with the public on the matter. — BM, GMA News