President Duterte reiterates desire to bring about just, lasting, inclusive peace in PH

MANILA – The President reiterated his desire and passion of bringing about just, lasting, and inclusive peace in the land, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza said.

In a statement, Dureza said  that Duterte made the pronouncement in a meeting with  some Cabinet Members including Secretaries Silvestre Bello III, Liza Masa, Judy Taguiwalo, and Rafael Mariano on Monday.

The meeting was scheduled to give Duterte updates on the peace process.

“We met with (President) Duterte until late last night and discussed the directions and possible next steps in our peace engagements with the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF), the Bangsamoro, the Cordilleras, and the other stakeholders,” Dureza said.

On the CPP/NPA/NDF, Dureza said the President gave specific instructions on how to deal with the present situation, including possible next steps following the cancellation of peace talks and the unilateral ceasefire declarations.

He said Duterte lamented that the almost 50-year old insurgency and conflict still continues to this day.

On the Bangsamoro peace table, Duterte, according to Dureza, viewed with a positive note the launch on February 24 of the renewed effort to implement the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

The President is set to preside over the big event on Friday in Davao City.

According to Dureza, Duterte also stressed the need for  the coming together of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Moro National Liberation Front, and other different groups of the Bangsamoro for a single road map for peace.

The President, Dureza said, also expressed support for the common and continuing aspirations for an autonomous region for the Cordillera of the people, and called on them to unite as one.

Dureza said the President instructed for all these different tracks to gather inputs from the different stakeholders to make the reform agenda inclusive.

He said the agenda must lead to the final goal of establishing a federal system throughout the country. (PIA/OPAPP)