Duterte open to coalition with CPP

DAVAO CITY—Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has firmed up the belief that he is interested to run in the 2016 presidential election when he said he was open to a coalition government with the Communist Party of the Philippines if ever he is elected as the next President.

Duterte said in his Dec. 21 television program that he hoped the coalition government would end the 46-year communist rebellion.

It was the second time he mentioned about forging a coalition government with the left. The first instance was during last week’s release of two soldiers held captive by the New People’s Army in Davao del Norte province.

“I am open to a coalition with revolutionary forces and other patriotic forces,” Duterte, who until recently was very vocal in rejecting efforts to make him run in 2016, said on Sunday.

“I guarantee that it will not be a communist government as it will retain the basic fundamentals of a democratic society,” he added.

The National Democratic Front had brought up the proposal for a coalition government in August 2005. But both the past and the present administrations had rejected the idea.

Duterte said should he agree on a coalition government, he would retain control of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, eliminate paramilitary groups and start the government “with a clean slate,” by implementing genuine land reform and national industrialization.

CPP founding chair Jose Maria Sison wrote on his Facebook page: “Duterte should become president if he is willing to have a democratic coalition government with revolutionary forces and other patriotic and progressive forces of our people.” Germelina Lacorte, Inquirer Mindanao

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