‘They owe us a lot’: Duterte no longer wants to talk with Reds

(2nd update, 2:50 p.m.) President Rodrigo Duterte has said he was no longer interested in peace talks with the communist rebels.

“Marami silang utang sa atin. Ayoko nang makipag-usap sa kanila, marami na akong pulis na pinatay nila. Marami na akong sundalong pinatay nila,” Duterte said in a speech in Camp Ranao in Marawi City on Thursday.

(They owe us a lot. I no longer want to talk to them. They have killed many of my police. They have killed many of my soldiers.)

He told the troops that the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were next on their target once they solve the Marawi crisis.

“There is a strong resurgence. Nabubuhay na naman ang NPA. Pagkatapos nito—leche itong putukan na ito—kapag naubos na ang mga ulol diyan, mag-re-orient tayo, NPA na naman kasi marami silang utang sa atin. Ayaw ko na makipag-usap sa kanila,” he said.
(There is a strong resurgence. The NPA is back to its operation. After this—damn this war—once we finish off the (Maute terrorists), we will reorient and go after the NPA because they owe us a lot. I don’t want to talk to them anymore.)

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. JOEY DALUMPINES/presidential PHOTO (FILE)

READ: Duterte using flimsy excuses to cancel talks – communist rebels
The President’s decision to stop talking to the New People’s Army and its negotiators came after the recent attacks of the communist guerillas against government forces.

Sought for clarification if Duterte was scrapping the peace talks or suspending it for the meantime, Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza said it was best to wait for the President’s “categorical decision.”

“Let’s wait for a categorical decision. Let’s not interpret what the (President) says. Just limit ourselves to his exact words. I did not personally hear him. Did he categorically say he was canceling talks? If not then let’s wait. Let’s not speculate,” Dureza told INQUIRER.net in a text message.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella also issued a clarification on the President’s pronouncements.

He said the peace talks were on hold until an “enabling environment” was achieved.

“Regarding the peace talks in Marawi, everything is on hold at this stage until there is… the conditions that are favorable (that) will be agreed upon by both parties,” he said during the Mindanao Hour in Malacañang.

This, however, was not the first time that Duterte cancelled the peace talks with the communist rebels. In February, he terminated the unilateral ceasefire and talks after rebels earlier announced that they were ending their own commitment to the truce

READ: Duterte: No more peace talks with Reds without ‘compelling reason’

Back then, he said there could be no peace with the communists “in this generation.” IDL/rga