Duterte withdraws as communist rebels’ consultant

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City is withdrawing as a consultant to the communist National Democratic Front in peace talks with the government.

Duterte said Thursday that his withdrawal was prompted by a letter from Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, reprimanding him for agreeing to be an NDF resource person and directing him to refrain from doing so.

“They told me to refrain then I will refrain,” Duterte said.

But Duterte said he did not see any problem in being an NDF resource person.

“My being a resource person is for the NDF to have an automatic referral. But since they are stopping me, then I am going to refrain,” he said.

In September, Luis Jalandoni asked Duterte to become part of the NDF panel as a resource person.

Former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo, who was present during the Jalandoni-Duterte meeting, said the vice mayor’s efforts to establish peace in Davaom by reaching out to both the military and the communist movement, was the main consideration.

Jalandoni described Duterte as having “rich political experience that could help in the pursuit of peace.”

“Every negotiation needs someone who is politically savvy, and this is where Vice Mayor Duterte would come in. Thus his contribution would be very valuable,” Ocampo said.

While the elder Duterte appears to be acceptable to the NDF, his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, continues to come under fire from the NDF.

The NDF’s criticisms were prompted by Sara’s recent call for the surrender of New People’s Army leaders and members.

“Her idea of peace, calling for the Red Fighters to surrender and then talk, is like putting a gun on the head, neutralize people while talking; and relegating to the backseat the occasion to listen and understand why people are poor and bear arms against an oppressive state,” Rubi del Mundo, NDF spokesperson in Southern Mindanao, said in an e-mail to reporters on December 5.

“This is devoid of any statesmanship supposedly expected from an elected official whose government is talking peace with the NDF,” Del Mundo added, accusing Sara Duterte of endorsing  the 69th Infantry Batallion’s “overbearing presence against the masses in [Davao’s] Paquibato,” Del Mundo said.