Pullout of plea to declare NPA, 600 others as terrorist ‘a possibility’ – Roque

The government may only withdraw its petition to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), as terrorists if “a final a peace agreement” is signed between the government and the communist rebels.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the government could only file a manifestation to hold in abeyance the petition once the peace talks resume.

“Siguro po, kapag natuloy na muli ang pag-uusap, pupuwede namang mag-file ng manifestation ang gobyerno na iho-hold muna nila in abeyance iyong petisyon na nakahain sa hukuman, pending the outcome of the peace talks,” Roque said in a Palace briefing on Thursday.

“I think it will be withdrawn if there is a final peace agreement signed. But while the peace talks are ongoing, ang pupuwedeng gawin is, diyan lang siya,” he said.

But Roque said the petition filed before a Manila court may only be put on hold if the communist rebels agree to resume the talks.

“That’s a possibility,” he said.

During the 24th Cabinet meeting, President Duterte ordered Peace Secretary Jesus Dureza to work on the resumption of peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

READ: Duterte orders resumption of peace talks with Reds

Roque said Duterte had laid down conditions for the rebels for the talks to resume.

“The President has also informed the Cabinet that he has authorized the resumption of peace talks subject to the condition, number one, that the NPA-CPP-NDF would honor a genuine ceasefire that there should actually be no shooting if and when the peace talks resume; number two, that the CPP-NPA would desist from collecting revolutionary tax while a ceasefire is ongoing; and number three, is that the CPP-NPA would not insist on a coalition government because that is absolutely not part of the bargaining table,” he said.

CPP founding Chairman Jose Maria Sison has welcomed the possible revival of the peace talks but said there should be no pre-conditions.

Roque, however, said the pre-conditions set by Duterte were non-negotiable.

“We don’t know in the first place if the CPP-NPA will agree to the terms of the President because the terms are not subject to negotiation,” he said.

The Palace official said the President was willing to grant Sison “an assurance that he can come without being arrested” to participate in the talks if it would push through.

“So if the CPP-NPA would agree to these conditions, then peace talks could resume; and if peace talks would resume, the President said he’s even able and willing to grant Joma Sison an assurance that he can come home without being arrested for the purpose of participating in the peace talks,” he said.

Roque said former lawmaker and peace negotiator Hernani Braganza was ordered to meet with the bargaining panel of the CPP-NPA to relay the President’s directive on the revival of the peace talks.              /kga