Duterte: General amnesty for Reds to depend on talks

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A general amnesty for communist rebels would hinge on the results of the peace negotiations, presumptive president Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said.

“(It will depend) on the results of the talks,” Duterte said when asked if he is inclined to grant the amnesty to jailed members of the communist movement.

“If we can agree together that we will resolve this together to make this country peaceful for the next generation, I will be thankful to God. But if not, then I’m sorry. But we share the same position,” he added.

Previous reports claimed that Duterte is willing to grant a general amnesty to political prisoners to put an end to the decades-old insurgency

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has been waging an armed struggle against the government since the late 1960s, making it the longest-running insurgency in the region.

The insurgency has claimed more than 40,000 lives.

Talks between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), the panel that represents the rebels in the peace negotiations, were stalled after the two sides failed to reach a deal on jailed rebel leaders.

The NDF said the government has the obligation to free the rebels who are working as peace consultants because it is a signatory to the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG). The agreement prohibits the arrest and detention of peace consultants.

Government negotiators, however, rejected the demand, saying the identity of those who are supposed to be covered by the JASIG cannot be verified.

Duterte said he is optimistic about the resumption of the peace talks.

Meanwhile, Duterte clarified that he would not appoint communist hardliners in his Cabinet.

“If you are a cadre in the mountains, I will not accept you. You will kill members of the military. I have to balance it, I have to give to the progressive, not to the communist party hardcore,” Duterte said.

“I’ve never been a rightist but in matters of national concerns and security, I’ve always been a rightist. I’ve been with the government and I’ve told the communists that at the end of the day, if we run out of soldiers, we will engage in a quarrel,” he added.

Earlier, Duterte said he is ready to give four cabinet posts to the CPP namely the Labor, Agrarian Reform, Environment, and Social Welfare departments.