DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said the City Government has always been open for a local peace negotiation with the New People's Army (NPA).
"Open ug ready for negotiation pero sila lang man ang dili (We are always open and ready but it is them who are not)," Duterte told reporters at the sidelines of the command conference held Monday evening at the Grand Men Seng Hotel in Davao City.
Duterte said they are ready to discuss peace talk with the communist group but there has been no concrete communication coming from the rebel group.
"The problem is we cannot talk to them. Unless maistorya nimo ang pinakataas na head sa communist group before panegotiate ang ceasefire (Unless we can directly talk to the highest leader of the communist party then we can negotiate for a ceasefire)," Duterte added.
But Duterte has not verified yet with the military on the issue regarding the Paquibato incident where three lumads were allegedly killed by soldiers last week.
"I have to determine first whether it is true or not," Duterte said.
Localized peace negotiations are nothing new. In the 1990s, when the whole region was still infested with rebels, local governments were initiating their own peace negotiations.