In this image made from video provided by Radio Television Malacañang, new President Rodrigo Duterte takes the oath during the inauguration ceremony at Malacañang Palace on June 30. AP
Peace not war.
This was the promise of President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday during the change of command ceremony at the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Quezon City.
“The first job of a President is not to go to war but rather to bring peace to his land,” Duterte said in his speech.
“My job is to bring peace. My job is to talk to the enemies of the state, to the Communist Party of the Philippines, to the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front), and to the men, and see if I could make a difference in our lives,” he added.
READ: Duterte gov’t, communist rebels open new peace talks
The President said he would talk to CPP founder Jose Maria Sison to “bring about—not a coalition government—an inclusive government.”
The government peace panel earlier held preliminary talks with the communist group for a possible peace agreement.
Duterte said he might travel to Jolo, Sulu, to talk to Nur Misuari, whom he described as friend.
“Next week, we are to talk to the MILF and eventually I think I’ll have to travel to Jolo to talk to Nur,” he said.
He said he was willing to give Misuari a “safe conduct pass.”
“I’m willing to give them safe conduct passes, only the leaders. At baka matyambahan ko na magkaroon tayo ng mapayapa. And if that happens really, I can retire happy and I can look back and say that I did my duty in nation building,” Duterte said, adding the government and the communist groups “cannot fight forever.”
He said he was just waiting for the arrival of Sison for them to be able to talk.
READ: Duterte says communist leader Joma Sison welcome home
“I’m just awaiting for the arrival of Sison to talk to him and maybe, just maybe in the fullness of God’s time, we can have peace amongst us,” the President said.
In his speech, Duterte reiterated his previous statement against Abu Sayyaf.
“I am not warning Abu Sayyaf but I said there will always be a time for reckoning,” he said. RAM/rga/RC