MANILA, Philippines – DUDA si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte sa katapatan ng National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) na tapusin ang insurgency kahit pa may exploratory peace talks na sinimulan ng gobyerno noong nakaraang taon.
“It has always been the same, in my opinion. I cannot doubt the government’s sincerity because I was with the government. The other side is not sincere in really sitting down and working on what they want to happen to this country,” ayon kay Duterte.
Sa ulat, nagkasundo sina Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at ang NDFP, na muling simulan ang usapang pangkapayapaan, kailangan para sa pagkakaisa para tugunan ang mga hamon ng bansa.
Sa kabilang dako, sa isang panayam, naniniwala naman si Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. na ang exploratory talks ay mauuwi sa pangmatagalang pangkapayapaan.
Gayunman, ipagpapatuloy naman ng military units ang kanilang operasyon laban sa communist insurgents.
“Tagal na ‘yan (peace talks). That dates back to the time of Lapu-Lapu. I advise the government to proceed and completely end the insurgency project once and for all. It is already going downhill. You just have to push it. Just a little shove would do,” ayon kay Duterte.
Aniya, kung ipagpapatuloy ang peace talks, umaasa si Duterte na magiging maayos at mababago ito “for the better.:
“At least a better part of the talks would succeed to make way for the succeeding negotiations to prosper,” ang sinabi ni Duterte.
“Until now, I am still confused about that (the expenditures on the peace talks). Perhaps it would be better to start with civil society, a responsible society not aligned with the communists,” ang wika ng dating Pangulo.
Si Special Assistant to President Secretary Anton Lagdameo, tumayong kinatawan ng pamahalaan ang nagpasimula ng exploratory talks sa pamamagitan ng paglagda sa joint statement kasama ang NDFP.
Tinukoy ang “significant socioeconomic and environmental concerns, along with foreign security threats,” ipinaliwanag ng joint statement ang pangangailangan na magsama-sama habang tinatalakay ng bansa ang mga hamon at tinutugunan ang ugat ng dahilan ng armed conflict.
Samantala, Inilarawan naman ni Vice President Sara Duterte ang joint communique bilang bahagi ng “malevolence”, binigyang-diin ang kanyang paniniwala na ang communist movement ay hindi kailanman naging tunay o totoo na isulong ang usapang pangkapayapaan. Kris Jose