MANILA — Only President Rodrigo R. Duterte can put an end to the decades-long conflict of the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA-NDF) with the government, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Sunday said.
Go, at the sidelines of the UNTV Cup in Pasig City, urged the communists to trust and support Duterte’s administration if they want to resume the stalled peace negotiations, saying Duterte has always been sincere in dealing with their group.
“Kung ‘di niya matatapos ang termino niya, kalimutan ninyo na ang peace talks. Sa mga CPP, NDF (National Democratic Front of the Philippines), NPA (New People’s Army), kapag wala na si Pangulong Duterte wala na kayong makakausap na sincere leader sa totoo lang, katapusan na ng dream ninyo na peace. Siya lang po ang pangulong pwede ninyong makausap na sincere talaga makipag-usap sa inyo (If he [the president] won’t be able to finish his term, forget about peace talks. To the CPP, NDF, NPA, if President Duterte is ousted there will no longer be a sincere leader you can talk to actually, that’s the end of your dream for peace. He is the only president who can talk to you with the sincerest intentions),” Go told mediamen.
Go made the statement after exiled CPP founder and NDF chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison said that it would be “relatively easier and more productive” for the movement to participate in ousting Duterte from office and to prepare for peace negotiations with the next administration.
He also expressed hope that the communist group puts its trust on Duterte who has trusted them since he was still mayor of Davao City.
“Noon pa umaakyat kami diyan sa mga bundok kaming dalawa lang ni pangulo at malaki ang tiwala niya sa inyo kaya pumupunta siya sa inyo nang walang security dahil malaki tiwala niya sa inyo. Sana naman kayo din magtiwala din sa pangulo (Even before, we climb the mountains there just me and the president and he has a big trust on you that’s why he visits you without security because he trusts you. I hope you will trust him too), he said.
Duterte earlier cancelled the resumption of the formal peace negotiations with the communists that was supposed to be held in Norway on June 28. He said he needed more time and to make more consultations before resuming the talks.
In an earlier statement, the CPP said Duterte “has become isolated domestically and internationally” and that he will be “forced out of Malacañang by way of a surge in anti-fascist protest actions or some other means.”
Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs chief, Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo, earlier said the number of rebels continues to dwindle nationwide, as NPA members continue to “surrender in droves”. (Teresa Montemayor/PNA)
WATCH:
Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go answers questions from the media during the UNTV Cup in Pasig City. (Video courtesy of RTVM)
