President Duterte has given communist rebels a “brief window of opportunity” to restore the trust in the peace process following the ambush on troops in Davao del Norte, Malacañang said on Friday.
Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said the President was upset about the attack and now awaits an explanation from the communist group about the incident.
“The onus remains on their side. So if whatever trust there is, it must be firmed up from their side,” Abella said in a Palace press briefing.
“As soon as the trust is restored, then things will proceed as agreed upon,” he added, when asked if the government will push through with release of political prisoners involved in the peace talks.
Asked how long the President would wait for the NPA explanation, Abella said: “I don’t have a timeline for that but he’s giving a window. With this statement, I believe he is giving a small window of opportunity.”
The President earlier threatened to cancel the unilateral ceasefire with the communist rebels if it could not adequately explain the ambush on Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) units in Davao del Norte by Thursday night. (GENALYN D. KABILING)