Palace says it has no information on the matter
(Eagle News) — A member of the Movie Television Review and Classification Board said on Tuesday, Jan. 15, that President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the conduct of back-channel talks with Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison and other high-ranking Communist rebel-officials.
Avelino Andal, former chief of the Philippine Coconut Authority, said President Duterte gave him the order last week.
“Nagpaabot agad ako (ng) feeler para makausap sila at actually tuwang-tuwa sila dahil ang gusto nila bumalik sa usapang kapayapaan,” Andal said.
But Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said he has no information on whether or not there was indeed a presidential order to that effect.
Peace talks with the Communist rebels were cancelled in 2017, with Duterte citing what he said were the group’s atrocities that included the killing of a baby.
