Dureza: No peace negotiations with Abu Sayyaf

COTABATO CITY—Incoming Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza on Friday said that the door to peace negotiations would not be opened to the Abu Sayyaf, contrary to earlier news reports that claimed the Duterte administration would be in talks with the bandit group.

In a statement posted on his Facebook account, Dureza—who was on his way to Oslo for an informal meeting with Prof. Jose Maria Sison—said he wanted “to correct the report by some media outlets bannering the story that I am open to negotiations with the ASG and the BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters).”

The BIFF is a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Dureza said while it was true he negotiated directly with the Abu Sayyaf for the freedom of his friend, the late Canadian tourist John Ridsel, he was not open to negotiating with the extremist group “in the context (of the peace talks) with the Bangsamoro and the CPP-NPA-NDFP.” The bandit group beheaded Ridsdel last April.

“True, I have even directly negotiated with the ASG just recently to seek the release of my friend John Ridsdel, whom they nevertheless beheaded as the families could not raise the demanded ransom amount. But negotiating with them in the context of what we are doing with the Bangsamoro and the CPP/NPA/NDF is definitely not the way forward,” Dureza stressed.

“They have to face the force of the law for their terrorism and criminal acts,” he added.