Vice President Sara Duterte expressed her opposition to the plan of the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, to revive peace talks with the communist group National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), whose leaders are in The Netherlands.
In a statement this Monday, Duterte called “an agreement with the devil” the recent joint statement by the government and NDFP to start drafting the peace talks.
Duterte made the statement on the fifth anniversary of the formation of the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
“Mr. President, the government’s statement with the NDFP in Oslo was an agreement with the devil,” said the second president who was also against the amnesty proclamations issued by Marcos for former communist rebels.
According to Duterte, it has been proven that the rebels are not loyal to the pursuit of peace and will only use negotiations against the government and deceive the people.
Duterte added that the cases of barangay officials, security volunteers, police and soldiers who died to protect the citizens against the rebels will not be given justice because of the amnesty proclamations.
“We appeal to your power to review these proclamations and agreements… Let us honor the memory of those who died in the senseless and bloody attacks of the NPA-CPP-NDFP,” requested the name president.
VP Duterte against plan to revive peace talks with NDFP
“Mr. President, we can negotiate for peace and reconciliation and pursue meaningful development efforts in the Philippines without capitulating to the enemies,” he added.
This past month, Marcos asked Filipinos to support the revival of peace talks with the NDFP, after signing the joint communique indicating the return of the two sides to negotiations.
In addition, he also granted amnesty through proclamation to some former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-NDF (CPP-NPA-NDF), even some members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Meanwhile, Speaker Martin Romualdez and several lawmakers filed House concurrent resolutions that will support Marcos’ amnesty proclamations.
In a statement, Romualdez called the Marcos administration’s decision to reopen peace talks with the communist group courage.
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