MANILA, Philippines — Despite his readiness to resume peace talks, President Duterte will not yet lift his proclamation declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and New People’s Army (NPA) as terrorists.
Last December, Duterte issued Proclamation No. 374 declaring the CPP and its armed wing the NPA as terrorist organizations, and lambasted them for staging attacks that harmed civilians and extorting money from businesses.
The President issued the proclamation days after scrapping the talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF), which represents the CPP and NPA in negotiations with the government.
Duterte, however, changed his tune on the communists earlier this month, saying he was open to talking peace with them and offering to shoulder the expenses of rebels who will join the negotiations.
Asked in a press conference yesterday if he would lift Proclamation No. 374, the President replied: “Not yet.”
Pressed if he is violating the rule that the government should not negotiate with terrorists, Duterte said: “Look, I cannot fight forever with my own countrymen. I am not a soldier. I am not a policeman. I am just a worker of government tasked to make it easy for everybody.”
“I said I will try to make your life comfortable. I did not say, a life that is luxurious. I want Filipinos to be comfortable. I would save lives. Filipinos against government because you cannot expect our people in unison to toe the line,” he added.
Duterte said his desire to save lives prompted him to give a 60-day timeline for the peace talks.
“I would have crossed the fine line of governance. I told (CPP founding chairman Jose Maria) Sison, he should come home. I will pay for everything. For two months, hotel, food. And for the NPAs to come down, stay there in a camp of your choice,” the President said.
“But do not bring arms outside. Until such time that we’re able to perfect an agreement, then keep your firearms there in the camp, but do not go out of the camp bringing guns. Stay there then we talk,” he added.
Duterte said the window for the peace talks is just small because the government and the communists do not have much to talk about. He said he has already expressed his objection to a coalition government.
“Maybe (we will discuss) economic reforms and everything. I am ready to listen to anybody, even to Sison, lecture me on how to improve the lives of Filipinos... So I have to find the peace. But there are lines that I cannot cross. They should come here. I will spend for their needs for two months,” the President said.
“Maybe if they want a policy border, I am okay with that. There’s always Congress. Congress can hear them out.”
Duterte previously said the negotiations could move forward if there is a ceasefire agreement and if the rebels stop collecting the so-called revolutionary taxes.
The President’s stand on the peace talks differs with that of his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who is opposed to resuming the negotiations with the rebels because of their recent attacks against civilians.
Asked to react to Sara’s view, Duterte said: “We have to hold the peace talks first before I talk to Sison.”
“We cannot understand each other. Then I will honor my agreement. I will bring Sison to the airport. If nothing happens, I will whisper to him ‘do not come back here anymore please’,” he added.
Duterte said he would take responsibility for the outcome of his decision to reopen the talks with the communists.
“When we start to talk about peace, they can now go out, can walk anywhere. That is the price which I have to pay and I take full responsibility. If anything goes wrong there, I will take the blame,” he said.