Palace: Duterte ‘always open’ to talks but Reds must show sincerity

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is “always open to end bloodshed in the country” but the communist rebels’ sincerity remains in question, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement a day after Duterte said the New People’s Army, who has been waging war with the government for over five decades now, “do not deserve mercy.”

He said he would just “finish” off the rebels.

READ: Duterte to Reds: You deserve no mercy

Sought for comment, Panelo said “there have been recent ambushes” by the rebels despite declaring their desire for a holiday ceasefire.

“Remember they said we are going to have a Christmas truce and yet look at what they are going,” he said.

Even if the rebels’ declaration of ceasefire has not started, the Palace official said the communists “might as well show your sincerity by not doing anything contrary to what your intention is.”

Despite his hardline stand against the rebels, Duterte is always open to ending the killings between the government and the NPAs, according to Panelo.

“The President is always open to end bloodshed in this country. He doesn’t want any killing among Filipinos,” he said.

“But for as long as they violate the terms of a peace talk then the President will never allow it to happen,” he added.

In his speech during a good governance summit in Davao City on Tuesday, Duterte also ordered the “hamletting” of all lumad villages for the “protection” of the indigenous people.

READ: Irked by Sorsogon attack, Duterte orders shoot to kill of all NPA rebels

“Perhaps, what he means is that to protect them, to shield them from harrassment or from undue influence from indocrination coming from the Left. Then he will do it for their own good and safety,” Panelo said. /ee