President Duterte stood firm in his decision to scrap the peace talks and lashed out at communist rebels for being “spoiled brats” and arrogant” over their unreasonable demands in the negotiating table.
The President insisted that peace was no longer possible with the belligerent rebels as he ordered the military and police to arrest the rebel negotiators earlier freed to join the talks.
“I tried my best to make peace with everybody…Ito naman komunista, hindi ko gustong…They are spoiled brat. Akala mo sila ‘yung nasa gobyerno kung mag-make ng demands,” Duterte said during the launching of a vegetable garden at the Presidential Security Group compound in Manila yesterday.
“Ang yayabang pa magsalita. Ako nagho-hold lang ako. I have to swallow minsan my being humble, okay lang. Pero sumobra itong. Pagka ganoon, fight tayo,” he said.
The President earlier decided to terminate the government’s peace negotiations with the communists following the collapse of the ceasefire made by the two sides.
Duterte was fuming over the rebel attacks against troops even prior to the lifting of their own truce. He has ordered the troops to prepare offensives against the rebels following the apparent breakdown in the peace talks.
“Wala na, sige giyera tayo. Then peace is not possible during our generation. I’m sorry. I’m not about to talk to them again,” the President said.
Duterte said he has already allowed the release of the rebel negotiators for the peace talks but the group demanded much more. He explained that he rejected the rebel demand to release 400 political prisoners because it was already tantamount to a government surrender. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)