President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (File photo)
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he is “glad” that the peace talks between his administration and the Communist Party of the Philippines - National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF) were terminated.
Duterte made the remarks during the inauguration of the Bicol International Airport in Daraga, Albay, as he once again slammed the arrogance of the communist movement’s armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).
“Hindi ako bilib sa tapang-tapangan nila (I’m not amused by their arrogance),” Duterte said. “Ewan ko kung ano ang nakuha nila (I don’t know what they get [or]) what gain they earned by killing people.”
Duterte said he could not give the communist guerillas another chance to resume the peace negotiations with the government, because they continue their killing spree.
He said the NPA insurgents’ continued attacks against government troops and civilians enraged him.
“Galit ako sa kanila (I am mad at them). To continue the killing and continue the ferocity of the hate, ewan ko kung ano ang gusto nitong mga ito (I don’t know what they want). But I’m not happy with them. I’m glad that we suspended the talk,” Duterte said.
Duterte said the communist group’s political wing, the National Democratic Front (NDF), has to wait for his successor to renegotiate the stalled peace talks with the government.
“Maybe the next president can do it but hindi ko kaya (I could not do it),” he said.
In June this year, Duterte said no peace talks can ever succeed, unless NPA stop attacking state forces and civilians.
The peace talks between the national government and NDF have been intermittent since 1986.
Duterte held a series of peace negotiations with the NDF, but was forced to scrap the talks following the NPA’s relentless attacks against government troops and civilians.
He formally ended the peace dialogue with the NDF through Proclamation 360 inked on Nov. 23, 2017.
The termination of talks was followed by the Dec. 5, 2017 signing of Proclamation 273 which brands the CPP-NPA as a terror group.
Apart from the Philippines, the CPP-NPA has been listed as a terror organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. (PNA)
