Roque: Talks with communists ‘closed for now,’ but ‘anything can happen’

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque (Photo by JOAN BONDOC / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

“Anything can happen” on the government’s peace talks with the communist rebels even after President Rodrigo Duterte issued a proclamation classifying them as terrorists.

“Anything can happen in this world, I guess ‘no. But for now it is closed,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing on Monday.

In November 2017, Duterte signed Proclamation No. 360, formally terminating the peace talks with the communist rebels.

READ: Duterte signs Proclamation No. 360 terminating peace talks with NPA

The President, in an interview with Mindanews, said he would want Jose Maria Sison, founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), to come home to have a private talk with him.

Asked if these meant that Duterte was not yet closing his doors to the possible resumption of peace talks, Roque said: “It is closed for now.”

He said New People’s Army (NPA) rebels should “humble themselves” first before the peace talks could resume.

“Ang precondition niya [Duterte] magpakumbaba [ang communist rebels],” Roque said.

Duterte cancelled the government’s peace talks with the communist rebels following their attacks against government troops, saying it was just “a waste of money.” /atm