Duterte: I did not order Andal to do back channel talks

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte denied Tuesday that he ordered Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) official Avelino Andal to carry out back-channel talks with exiled communist leader Jose Maria Sison and other rebel leaders.

“Look, everybody is talking. So [I have] no instruction on Andal about backchanneling,” former Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go quoted Duterte as saying in a phone interview.

Andal on Monday told reporters that Duterte asked him to do back-channel talks with the communist leaders, though, he said, “in my private capacity.” /kga