The petition to declare communist rebels and at least 600 individuals as terrorists would remain even if President Rodrigo Duterte said he was open to the resumption of peace talks.
Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the latest pronouncement of the President would not affect the petition filed by the government before a Manila court.
“For as long as the legal requirements under the Human Security Act are met, then the government will pursue its proscription action against these people regardless of the fact na coincidentally, they are supposed to be “consultants” sa peace process,” Guevarra said in a Palace briefing on Wednesday.
According to Guevarra, the resumption of peace talks with the communists would be subjected to preconditions.
“Walang epekto itong sinabi ng Presidente na open siya ‘no. Of course iyong sinabi ng President na open siya na makipag-usap uli sa mga rebelde ay subject to certain preconditions ‘no, like stop ang lahat ng pag-atake nila sa mga government—and even private facilities like construction equipment, alright, and certain other conditions like itigil nila ang pangongolekta ng mga revolutionary taxes from residents of particular areas, and so forth and so on,” he said.
On Tuesday, Duterte said he was open to resume the peace talks if the New People’s Army (NPA) stops its attacks and collection of “revolutionary taxes.”
READ: Duterte to Reds: Stop attacks, ‘revolutionary taxes’ and we’ll talk
In November 2017, the President signed Proclamation No. 360, formally terminating the peace talks with the communist rebels.
READ: Duterte signs Proclamation No. 360 terminating peace talks with NPA
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