Digong to Joma: Don’t you want to see peace before you die?

MANILA — President Duterte urged the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), on Wednesday, to show a consistent commitment to the peace process.

Mr. Duterte said the communist insurgents kept changing their minds on whether to cooperate with the government or to launch attacks against it.

“Are we going to talk or are we going to fight? You are like an electric fan..vaccillating…(turning) right to left, left to right,” the President said in a speech in Hagonoy Davao del Sur.

He also addressed his former teacher, CPP founding chair Jose Maria Sison, whom he described as “seriously sick.”

“Don’t get angry, Sir, because you were my teacher, but you’re sick. You are not dying but you are seriously sick,” the President said.

“(Wouldn’t) you be happy to see and to die that there is peace in this country before you finally close your eyes?” he added.

Mr. Duterte said both sides should show sincerity and stop issuing threats against each other.

“We are all Filipinos…you know every time I see a dead soldier or a dead NPA, I feel bad because we’re Filipinos. and we are fighting an issue as a matter of principle?” he said.

Chief government peace negotiator and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Tuesday said the government and the communist rebels would resume peace talks next month.

They will hold informal talks later this month to iron out thorny issues, like the need for an interim ceasefire, before the formal negotiations, according to Bello.  SFM