Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza said Sunday the planned meeting with National Democratic Front leaders Fidel Agcaoili and Luis Jalandoni may take place next week in Manila.
Dureza said President Duterte has tasked him and presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo to meet them in an informal chat.
“I am now on my way to head the Philippine delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York so the planned meeting may take place upon my return next week,” he said.
Dureza had earlier said he is hopeful the possible meeting between Duterte and NDF negotiators will lead to the resumption of peace talks.
Dureza said both parties’ recent gestures are a “welcome development” in moving peace forward with the communists. “The announcement of the President is something that we should welcome, and we should also welcome the openness of CPP-NPA-NDF to work towards resumption of peace negotiations,” Dureza said.
He expressed confidence the President will continue his administration’s pursuit for lasting peace. “While he’s being forceful in seeing to it that there is peace in the country, he also knows that we cannot just resolve this militarily. We also have to address the root cause,” the presidential peace adviser said.
The President disclosed during the Subaraw biodiversity festival in Palawan recently that he may meet Agcaoili and Jalandoni.
“Agcaoili and Jalandoni, I will not keep it a secret. I do not want iyang confidential-confidential. Pupunta dito sabi nila gusto nila akong kausapin. Ang problema nila pagka hinuli sila. So sabi ko talagang huhulihin kayo,” Duterte said.
