Gov’t not closing doors on peace talks; Duterte’s conditions remain

President Rodrigo Duterte leads the AFP-PNP command conference on July 4, 2018. (Palace Photo)

The government is not closing its doors on the resumption of peace talks with the communist rebels,  Malacañang said on Monday.  It insisted, however, that the conditions imposed by President Rodrigo Duterte remain.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the resumption of the peace talks was discussed during the joint command conference of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police on Wednesday night.

Duterte had earlier ordered the postponement of the peace talks scheduled last June, a move seen by the communist rebels as “sabotage.”

“The door for peace talks remains open provided that PRRD’s conditions are met: in country, no collection of revolutionary tax, no hostilities, NPA fighters to remain encamped, and no coalition government,” Roque said in a statement posted on his Facebook Page.

The Palace official said, “localized peace talks may be pursued by local LGUs provided they do not concede any aspect of governance and pursuant to guidelines to be agreed upon by the cabinet cluster on security.” /ee