AMONG the five presidentiables, only Davao City Mayor Rodrigo openly expressed willingness to engage in resolving peace issues in the country especially on the resumption of the GRP-NDFP peace talks, the Exodus for Justice and Peace (EJP) said during a media conference Monday.
The issue, however, was used by Duterte's rivals who alleged his involvement with armed groups.
EJP church minister Angelico Cofreros said Duterte's attitude towards establishing dialogue with the rebels is totally poles apart from the four presidential candidates.
"Kung atong tan-awon ang character aning nagdagan sa pagka-pangulo, ang ilang attitude daan na sirado na sila sa gihimo ni Mayor Duterte alang sa hisgtonang paghinabi tali sa nagkadaiyang grupo, unsaon nila pagkasinsero pagmahimo na silang presidente (If the presidentiables' mind is close to the idea of having peace talks with various groups how can they be sincere when they become a president?)," Cofreros said.
He also said that serious complications and consequences such as more intense clashes and protests by the people will occur if the next president is close to the prospect of instituting discussions with the armed groups.
Reverend Jurie Jaime also said that among the presidentiables, only Duterte shares their vision and is sincere having already done some peace measures even before he assumed his post as mayor.
"He is equipped in solving armed conflict," Jaime said.
The sincerity of Duterte, according to Jaime, is clearly manifested in his openness to engage in a discussion with the armed group. (Berchan Louie A. Angchay, AdDU intern/With RCP)