Duterte changes tune, says no more peace talks with communist rebels

President Rodrigo Duterte has changed his mind about resuming peace talks with the communist rebels just weeks after he broached the idea of reviving the negotiations.

In a speech in Jolo, Sulu on Monday, Duterte rued anew the attacks by the insurgents on soldiers and policemen during peace negotiations, which the government interpreted as a sign of bad faith.

"Ganun rin sa NPA. Hindi na ako makipag-usap sa inyo. Eh walang magawa eh. Magpakabuti ka, pasunud-sunuran ka lang, istorya ganun," he said. "Tapos in return ito ang ibigay ninyo sa akin. Mga kabaong pati iyong mga naputol mga paa. Ay p____ ina."

Duterte said on January 8 that he was leaving a “small window” of opportunity for peace talks and that he was holding back from using military might to crush the rebels. 

“It may or may not be of use to us. Just in case you want to resume, at least there is a window where we can use,” he said.

Peace negotiations between the government and communist rebels bogged down in November 2017 after Duterte lamented the continued attacks by the rebels on troops and civilians.

The President has set out a new strategy in addressing the decades-old communist insurgency as provided under Executive Order 70, which he signed on December 4 last year.

The EO provides that the whole-of-nation approach aims to address the root causes of insurgencies, disturbances and tensions such as poverty, historical injustice, social inequality and lack of inclusivity. — RSJ, GMA News