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Duterte officially ends peace talks with Reds
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday has signed the proclamation which formally terminates peace talks with the communist rebels, Malacañang announced. (PCOO Photo)
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday has signed the proclamation which formally terminates peace talks with the communist rebels, Malacañang announced.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement that the President signed Proclamation No. 360, declaring the termination of negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
Roque said that Duterte also ordered the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) Panel for Peace Talks to cancel peace talks and meetings with the communist group.
“While we agreed to resume peace talks with the aforementioned group and exerted our best efforts to accelerate the signing and implementation of the final peace agreement, the NDFP-CPP-NPA has engaged in acts of violence and hostilities,” Roque stressed.
“We find it unfortunate that their members have failed to show their sincerity and commitment in pursuing genuine and meaningful peaceful negotiations,” he added.
The spokesman said Duterte has always wanted to leave a legacy of peace under his administration.
“He has, in fact, walked the extra mile for peace. Rest assured that he will continuously pray that we may all find the peace that we seek for our beloved country in the fullness of God’s time.”
A copy of the proclamation was not yet available to the media.
The proclamation was signed following the announcement of the OPAPP that the government was terminating its peace negotiations with the CPP-NPA-NDFP.
On Wednesday, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza said that there will be no peace talks anymore until such time as the “desired enabling environment conductive to a change in the government’s position” is evident.
Dureza stressed that recent tragic and violent incidents in the country committed by the communist group has led to Duterte’s decision to suspend talks.
