Despite frustrations, Duterte says ‘pursuit of peace continues’

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said the pursuit of peace would continue until the last day of his administration.

“The pursuit of peace continues,” Duterte said during his second State of the Nation Address (Sona) at the Batasang Pambansa.

The President said many lives have been lost due to the decades-long insurgency in the country but he said he was resolved to bring peace in this generation.

“Peace eludes us still. Sometimes I am almost tempted that peace may not come during our lifetime,” he said.

“I will persist in our goal of attaining peace up to the last day of this administration,” he added.

Duterte’s remarks came days after he said he was “abandoning” the peace talks with the communist rebels.

“It is not the pace of the dead but the peace of the living that we seek,” he said. IDL/rga