President Rodrigo Duterte is “ruining” the peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), exiled Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) leader Jose Maria “Joma” Sison has said.
“Duterte is the one ruining the peace negotiations. He also destructed the whole second year of term (of the talks),” Sison told reporters in an online interview, a day after the government decided to delay the resumption of talks earlier set for June 28.
“It seems like there would be no resumption of peace talks if he (Duterte) will insist to have the peace talks in the Philippines,” he added.
At the same time, Sison belied Malacanang’s claim that he had no arrest warrant, saying he was charged with multiple murder in Leyte in the 1980s, a case that he described as “fake.”
Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza announced on Thursday that the government had decided to delay the peace negotiations with the communist rebels, saying the public needed to be consulted first.
Sison expressed disappointment and frustration over the decision announced by the government despite the “successful” back-channel talks held in The Netherlands last week.
Sison said rebels had “no choice” but to wage war to achieve “national and social liberation.”
President Duterte on Thursday said the government needed more time before resuming formal negotiations.
“Sison said June. No, I’m not ready for that. I need more time,” Duterte said in a speech in Laguna during the oath-taking of newly-elected village chiefs.
Duterte arrived at the decision following a command conference with the military and the police on Wednesday in Malacanang, where he was briefed on developments in back-channel talks between government and rebel negotiations.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines shrugged off the threats made by the top communist leader and backed the postponement of the peace negotiations.
Col. Edgard Arevalo, military spokesman, said the military was in favour of “lasting peace” in the country that would be acceptable to the Filipino people at large. Dureza on Friday justified the government’s decision to postpone the resumption of the peace talks with communist rebels, saying that public consultation “can win public goodwill.”
In a text message, Dureza said he respected Sison’s sentiment but pointed out that the postponement was meant to “strengthen and protect” the gains achieved by both parties during their back-channel talks.
“He (Sison) is entitled to his own opinion and we respect it. Our purpose in seeking more time is precisely to strengthen and protect the gains achieved so far by both panels in the back-channel talks,” Dureza said.
Asked when the government intended to start the consultation, Dureza said, “We are in the process of formulating the process to do it as quickly as possible.”
He said the government was also reaching out, not only to the parties involved, but also to sectors like the churches, youth, business, local government units and non-government organisations.
“We have no specifics yet except broad strokes in that direction. But ideally if both panels of their representatives come together and engage the public, a lot of public goodwill can be earned,” Dureza said.
Both sides were supposed to sign an interim peace agreement if formal negotiations resumed later this month.
The deal was predicated on agreements on agrarian reform and national industrialisation, an amnesty proclamation, and a co-ordinated unilateral ceasefire. A stand-down agreement was to be simultaneously declared on June 21, which was a week later than what was previously agreed upon.
The talks fell through in November last year following clashes between government troops and communist rebels.
Duterte then moved to have the communist rebels declared a terrorist group.
The president, however, had a change of heart, saying he would like to give peace another chance.
Sison: ruling out negotiations in Philippines
