President Duterte says “one of these days, maybe the Filipino people should demand the truth” (Eagle News) – Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile questioned the back-channeling talks done by former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV with China in 2012 on the Scarborough stand-off, saying Trillanes’ close connection with Chinese officials should be looked into. Enrile, 97, who had also served as Defense Minister for over 14 years during the administration of the late President […]
Tag: backchannel talks
Palace denies Duterte authorized MTRCB member to lead backchannel talks with Communist rebels
(Eagle News)–The Palace on Thursday, Jan. 17, denied the claim of Movie and Television Review and Classification Board member Avelino Andal that he was asked by President Rodrigo Duterte to conduct backchannel talks with the Communist rebels. In a press conference, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said President Duterte himself had denied ever authorizing Andal for such. “Baka (Andal) misunderstood the conversation. I can’t blame him,” Panelo said. Earlier, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana denied Duterte had made […]
PHL gov’t suspends backchannel talks with Communist rebels
(Eagle News) — The Philippine government has suspended backchannel talks with the Communist rebels. In a statement, Hernani Braganza, the government’s negotiator for those talks, said the suspension was “pending the three-month review of all signed agreements related to the peace negotiations.” Braganza said the decision was so the government could make use of the three-month period for public consultations. “It is our fervent hope that the consultations will help galvanize public support to peace […]





