PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday told communist rebels seeking peace negotiations with the government to sign a bilateral ceasefire—“reduced in writing”—and come up with “clear parameters” before any restoration of peace talks.
“I want a ceasefire reduced in writing, and the parameters clearly shown, where are we going, and what shall we do if we fail,” Duterte said in a speech before municipal mayors at the Manila Hotel.
“We have to pray for everything. But everything’s still vague until now,” he added.
Four police officers died in an ambush by suspected members of NPA in Bansalan, Davao del Sur last Wednesday, prompting President Duterte to urge the military and the police to use all their assets in the war against communist rebels.
Attacks, however, continued after the New People’s Army guerrillas burned a bus in Makilala, North Cotabato, and wounded five policemen in an ambush in Abra.
Duterte earlier opened up the possibility of reviving the stalled peace talks, but laid down three “requests” before any negotiation could proceed: A genuine ceasefire done in sincerity, the release of all soldiers and civilians being held captive by the NPA, and a stop to NPA extortion activities.
On Sunday, the government’s peace panel and negotiators from the National Democratic Front agreed to return to the negotiating table, pending a unilateral ceasefire that has yet to take effect.
“I cannot expound anything further,” Duterte said, referring to the backchannel talks between the government and communists.
Continuation of the drafting of three substantial agenda—social and economic reforms, constitutional and political reforms and end of hostilities—has been hanging after Duterte decided to terminate the peace talks amid the breakdown of their respective unilateral ceasefires early February.
During the meeting of the National Security Council last Monday, the President stressed the need for “clear parameters” between the two groups.
“On the peace process, the President acknowledged the joint statement of the [government] and NDF [National Democratic Front] peace panels on the intent to resume formal peace talks,” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a press briefing.
“To ensure that genuine peace talks are realized, the President asked both panels to agree on clear parameters for ceasefire and the talks,” he added.
Duterte, in a press briefing Monday, said the resumption of peace negotiations between the government peace panel and the NDF consultants would give way to end the armed conflict in the country.
Labor Secretary and government chief negotiator Secretary Silvestre Bello III urged communists to straighten up their ranks in the ground to prevent another collapse of the talks.
“We are really saddened by these unfortunate incidents. We have communicated with our counterparts and they vowed to look into it,” Bello said in a statement.
“In the meantime, we urge combatants to observe restraint.”
“We remain firm and confident that we can still proceed according to the agreement we just signed in Utrecht to swiftly reinstate our respective unilateral ceasefires while we work on the terms of an interim bilateral ceasefire agreement,” he added.
Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza said the unilateral ceasefire between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines has yet to take effect.