Duterte accepts offer to become NDF resource person

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte accepted on Tuesday night an offer made by National Democratic Front (NDF) chairman Luis Jalandoni for him to become one of the rebel group’s resource persons in the peace process with the government.

Jalandoni arrived here for a series of consultations on the ongoing peace process.

He made the offer to Duterte during a dinner which the vice mayor hosted in a Chinese restaurant here.

Jalandoni said Duterte’s expertise in local government administration and in negotiations would be a big help to the NDF panel.

He said Duterte also has an extensive knowledge of the insurgency situation in the grassroots level as well as on dealing with both the rebels and the military, particularly in getting their sentiments, which could help in the peace negotiations.

Jalandoni said Duterte could also help in the finalization of the draft on the economic and development aspect that the NDF would bring up in the peace talks with the government.

He expressed confidence that the government would agree to the resumption of the stalled peace negotiations later this month.

For his part, Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna said Duterte’s role is important considering that the Mindanaoan leader is familiar with both sides and that his political clout is a plus factor.

“Every negotiation needs someone who is politically savvy and this is where Vice Mayor Duterte would come in, thus his contribution would be very valuable,” Ocampo said.

For his part, Duterte said he is willing to do his best to attain peace. He said he wants the armed conflict to end in his generation so that the younger generations would live in peace.

Jalandoni said they would invite Duterte to join them in the peace talks in Oslo, Norway or Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Duterte only had one request though: that the talks be scheduled before or after the winter season.

Jalandoni and Ocampo, along with other progressive leaders, are in town to attend the forum of the coalition Sowing the Seeds of Peace in Mindanao led by Philippine Independent Church Bishop Felixberto Calang.

Calang said their coalition is calling for the resumption of the peace talks.

The NDF has offered to resume the peace talks in Oslo, Norway on Sept. 22 to 24. If this pushes through, Jalandoni said the negotiations would tackle the issues on social and economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms, and the controversy surrounding the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee (JASIG).