Duterte to communists: Don’t push me

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. ACE MORANDANTE/Presidential Photo

DAVAO CITY – President Duterte has told the communist rebels not to try to push him around in the peace negotiations, saying the Armed Forces of the Philippines will not like seeing their Commander-in-Chief cave in to the rebels and fight back.

The President also hinted on Thursday that he was not keen on terminating the unilateral ceasefire he had declared in August just yet, even if the Communist Party of the Philippines has decided to end its own ceasefire on February 10.

Speaking at the 38th convention of the Philippine Association of Water Districts at the SMX Convention Center here, Duterte said, “I told you, do not push me too much because the military might not like it. And then if the military would kill me or oust me, you have nobody talking to you,” Duterte added.

“I have to temper. I have to calibrate my moves,” he added.

Duterte instead called on the rebels to show some respect saying “all will go to waste without respect.”

Duterte also asked communist rebels for understanding, saying he could not give in to all their demands at this point.

In responding to the termination of the CPP-declared ceasefire, the President asked: “You withdrew your ceasefire, am I supposed to do the same?”

He said if he did it, he would be a copycat.

“Gaya-gaya puto maya,” Duterte said, adding that “I will decide in the fullness of God’s time.”

The communists said that among the reasons for the termination of their unilateral ceasefire was the government’s dilly-dallying in the release of political prisoners.

The government has so far released about two dozen political consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF), the political negotiating arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

“The unilateral ceasefire declaration was issued on the mutual understanding with the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) that such releases will take effect within 60 days of August 28. Such was the context why the GRP panel approached the NDFP towards the end of October seeking an extension of the CPP/NPA’s declaration with a promise that around 200 political prisoners were set to be released,” Jorge Madlos, the spokesperson of the communist New People’s Army’s national operations command, said on Wednesday.

But Duterte reminded the communists that he had conceded too much already.

“I have surrendered/conceded too much too soon. Now they (NDF) want 400 released? My God, that’s releasing all. It’s as if I have granted amnesty already,” he said.

Duterte said amnesty was usually given after a successful negotiation.

He also said he alone could not decide for the government and that he must consult the military, the police, Congress and other officials.  It was at this point that Duterte said:  “I told you do not push me too much because the military might not like it. And then if the military would kill me or oust me, you have nobody talking to you,” Duterte added.

“I have to temper. I have to calibrate my moves,” he added.

Duterte reminded the rebels the importance of respect in negotiations:  “All will go to waste without respect.”

Government chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III earlier said the government peace panel has recommended to President Duterte to go on with the government’s unilateral ceasefire amid the CPP’s termination of its own truce.

Bello said it was sad that the CPP decided to terminate the unilateral ceasefire it declared in August as it, along with the unilateral ceasefire the government has declared much earlier, helped in the advancement of the peace process.

“The government panel negotiating peace with the National Democratic Front firmly believes that the unilateral ceasefire declared by both parties….was instrumental in moving the peace process forward,” he said.

Bello said the truce also “provided our people the opportunity to participate in the bigger peace table, enabling them to voice out their positions in the ongoing negotiations.”

Bello said the ceasefire also brought down the number of incidents that could spoil the talks.

But even with the termination, he said the government was hoping the NDF would still attend the succeeding meetings, including the one scheduled in Oslo.

When the Philippine Daily Inquirer sought him via Twitter direct message, Madlos said the ceasefire termination could still be re-considered and that they were still open for bilateral ceasefire negotiations.

He said the 10-day notice that the CPP gave the government before the full termination of the ceasefire it has declared would provide enough time to troubleshoot the thorny situation.

“If they (government) would comply (with the demands), we can even sign a bilateral (ceasefire agreement) if we will reach an agreement,” Madlos said.

He also said that even with the termination of the unilateral truce, the CPP was not withdrawing the NDF peace panel from the scheduled meeting in The Netherlands on February 22 to 24. The details of a bilateral ceasefire agreement will be discussed during that meeting.

“No. The talks will go on,” Madlos said.  (With a report from Karlos Manlupig, Inquirer Mindanao, INQ) SFM