By Genalyn D. Kabiling
The government is optimistic that the peace negotiations with the communist rebels could prosper in less than the 60-day window set by President Duterte.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque acknowledged that the two sides must only agree on a “common platform” to combat poverty, the root cause of the rebellion, for the talks to succeed.
“I understand the only agenda is you know addressing the supposed root causes of rebellion and I don’t think there’s a divergence of views on the root causes on the rebellion – it is poverty,” Roque said during a Palace news conference.
“So if the government and CPP-NPA will agree to address the root causes, then it should not even take 60 days because we have a common platform, mas maginhawang buhay para sa lahat, mas komportableng buhay para sa lahat,” he added.
The 60-day time frame for the negotiations, Roque said, would start “as soon as both sides have clearly agreed to resume peace talks.”
“The problem is we have been talking peace with them for years and years and years. Walang katapusan. So I think the President said this is our last chance. Sixty days only,” he said.
Months after terminating the negotiations, Duterte recently offered a 60-day window for the peace talks between the government and the communist rebels.
Duterte, however, asked the rebels to agree to a ceasefire and halt extortion activities if they want to resume the talks.