Duterte formally ends peace talks

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has revoked the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig) between the government and the communists, Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Jesus Dureza said on Tuesday.

This developed after the President cancelled the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, and the New Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

The termination of Jasig would effectively end the peace negotiation between the government and the NDF, the CPP's political wing.

The Jasig provides that peace talks can only be terminated upon written notice given by one party to the other. It is deemed terminated “30 days after the receipt of the notice of termination.”

Dureza relayed Duterte’s order through a letter dated February 7 and addressed to CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison and NDF chief peace negotiator Fidel Agcaoili.

“Following the President’s announcement of the cancellation of the peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF and per his instructions, the government is hereby serving this notice of the termination of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees,” the letter read.

Despite Duterte's decision to terminate the peace talks, Dureza said the government is exploring other avenues to achieve peace in the country.

Dureza said that even after the government would no longer pursue the peace talks with the communist leaders, it would continue to look for “other paths to peace.”

“Despite the cancellation of the peace talks, the Duterte administration remains committed in its peace efforts by continuing with resolve to explore all opportunities to intensify implementation of genuine reforms for the benefit of the people, particularly socio-economic programs in conflict-affected communities,” Dureza said.

“It shall also continue to pursue other paths to peace and undertake all forms of peace initiatives and peace-building efforts at the national, regional and local levels to keep the peace,” he added.

Dureza also guaranteed that the government would continue to preserve the law and order, as well as to protect the Filipino people against “insurgent activities and threats of terrorism.”

He added that the administration was committed to pursuing the enhancement of the democratic institutions.

“Let us be one in our call for a stop to armed violence and pursue just and lasting peace by ways of peace,” Dureza said. (SunStar Philippines)