Duterte may yet backtrack on peace talks

Recalling how President Duterte had backtracked twice before, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) leaders on Wednesday said the President may yet change his mind about ending formal peace negotiations with the rebels.

CPP leaders Benito Tiamzon, Wilma Austria-Tiamzon and Adelberto Silva raised this possibility as they asked a Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC)  court judge to deny the government’s bid to have them rearrested immediately.

“It is important to note that this is the third time since the opening of the formal talks in August 2016 that President Duterte has announced a ‘termination’ of the peace talks. Twice before, he has backtracked on his decision,” the rebel leaders said in a joint court reply filed on Dec. 13.

At the least, they said, the court should hold off deciding whether to cancel their bail in order to give way to “efforts and overwhelming calls” to resume the peace talks.

Temporary liberty

The Tiamzon couple and Silva, alleged top leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA), the CPP’s armed wing, were given temporary liberty in August last year to join the peace talks.

Last Nov. 23, Mr. Duterte formally ordered an end to the peace negotiations, citing continued attacks by the rebels.

The next day, state prosecutors asked Manila RTC Branch 32 Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina to rescind the temporary liberty given to the Tiamzons and Silva.

The President went on to officially declare the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization on Dec. 5.