LGUs may hold peace talks with local Reds, says Palace

Local government units may conduct localized peace negotiations with communist rebels in their respective areas, Malacañang said on Wednesday night.

Presidential spokesman Secretary Harry Roque made the remark following President Rodrigo Duterte's command conference with Armed Forces and Philippine National Police officials.

"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," Roque said.

Roque said the government remained open to peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines subject to certain conditions set by Duterte.

Duterte wants the peace talks to be done in the Philippines and the rebels to stop collecting revolutionary tax.

Roque added that Duterte wanted no hostilities between government forces and New People's Army rebels, NPA fighters to remain "encamped" and no demand for a coalition government.

Duterte also expressed his “wish” that Norway continues as third party facilitator in the event the talks are resumed, according to presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza.

As regards the friendly fire incident that killed six policemen in Sta. Rita, Samar, Roque said Duterte found it difficult to impute negligence on the military.

“Difficult to impute fault or negligence because the NPAs oftentimes steal uniforms of slain government security forces or are oftentimes dressed in commercially available fatigues,” Roque quoted Duterte as saying.

“It was really Murphy’s Law at work," he added. — with Virgil Lopez/NB/RSJ, GMA News