President Rodrigo Duterte. RICHARD MADELO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Duterte will personally review the peace agreements entered into by his predecessors, Malacañang said on Thursday, days after he postponed the resumption of the peace talks with the communist rebels.
“Ang estado ngayon lahat ng usapin [ay] on-hold until marepaso ng Presidente (Right now, all talks are on-hold until the President reviews them). And the President has said, I’m revealing for the first time that he will personally review all these agreements entered into by all his predecessors,” Roque said in a Palace briefing.
Peace Secretary Jesus Dureza on June 14 postponed the resumption of the scheduled peace talks between the government and the communist rebels later this June.
READ: Dureza: Peace talks with Reds on June 28 canceled
The government also suspended on Thursday all backchannel talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF) for a three-month review of all signed agreements on the peace talks.
READ: PH suspends backchannel talks with Reds
Despite the postponement and cancellation, Roque said President Duterte remained committed to the peace talks.
“We’re all hoping for the best because I think the kind of determination that the President has shown in one thing to see the peace agreement is also unprecedented,” he said.
“The fact that the President has repeatedly said that he wants to continue with the peace talks is always positive,” he added. /je
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