Dureza optimistic of peace talks with Reds
DAVAO CITY — Incoming presidential adviser to the peace process Jesus Dureza is optimistic that the talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines will be productive under the Duterte administration.
“The difference now we have a president who thinks out of the box, who is very bold, who will spend political capital just to see we will achieve something in the negotiations. So I’m very optimistic,” he told reporters on Wednesday night.
Dureza, a longtime friend of incoming president Rodrigo Duterte, also served as peace adviser during the administrations of former presidents Fidel Ramos and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“Sabi ng iba (Some say), Jess you’re back already so okay na. No, kung alam ko ang (if I knew the) magic formula, matagal na sana naayos ito (then this would have been settled long ago). It’s a work [that involves a] step-by-step [process], one piece at a time. But having a president like President Rody must be very forthright. Unprecedented ‘yung nag offer siya sa Communist Party of the Philippines ng cabinet positions (That he offered cabinet positions to the Communist Party of the Philippines is unprecedented), which was unthinkable prior to this,” he said.
READ: NDFP sees peace deal within 6-9 months of Duterte administration
Peace talks between the government and the communist rebels have been on and off the past three decades.
Preliminary talks between the incoming administration and the NDFP are set in Oslo next week, Communist Party of the Philippines founding Chairman Jose Maria Sison first announced on Wednesday.
READ: Preliminary talks with NDFP to start next week
Sison said both parties are set to agree on the agenda for the resumption of formal talks in July.
The talks will be held two weeks before Duterte and his Cabinet formally assume office.
Dureza later clarified that the meeting is only in the “sidelines” of a forum hosted by the Norwegian government, which is brokering the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the NDFP.
“To make it very clear, we have not yet assumed office. We are not there to start formal negotiations. We are there to attend a forum but it will be a good opportunity to meet in the sidelines with the leaders of the CPP, who by the way are my personal friends before,” he said. CDG
READ: Joma says Oslo talks to tackle ceasefire details
