Duterte: Let CPP die naturally

MANILA, Philippines — Citing the uselessness of talking peace with communist rebels, President Duterte would rather let the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) end its “natural life.”

The President said he was inclined to just let the CPP die a natural death, noting that its exiled leader and founder, Jose Ma. Sison, was nearing advanced age just like him.

“We have many fronts. The communist party, this communist party, I think we should just wait for its natural life to end, just like mine. Sison is old too, anyway,” Mr. Duterte said.

‘Hell is waiting for us’

He added: “If he is as old as I am, I’d be happy to go with him hand in hand to the mouths of hell. We won’t reach heaven. Hell is waiting for us.”

The President made the remarks during the PDP-Laban’s “miting de avance” in Pasig City on Saturday night.

He has been trading barbs with Sison after the President moved to formally cancel the peace negotiations with the communist rebels in November 2017.

However, the President has repeatedly changed his mind on the matter, sometimes saying he was in favor of going back to the negotiation table and then taking it back on another occasion.

For now, the government has decided to pursue the conduct of localized peace talks with communist rebels.

Sought for comment on the President’s remarks, Malacañang said Mr. Duterte has always allowed for a “small window” of opportunity for the peace talks.

Told that Sison advised the President to resume the peace negotiations to “escape the wrath of hell” and that the exiled communist leader has no intentions of accompanying Mr. Duterte to hell, the Palace said Sison must first prove his sincerity in talking peace.

“The problem is, is he honest? Will his people listen to him? The problem is that his people may be no longer heeding him,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a radio interview.