Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has decided to put the conduct of localized peace talks with National Democratic Front-New Peoples’ Army in the meantime.
She said this would be more in in line with the national government’s peace agenda vis-à-vis the 4th round of talks between the NDF and the Government of the Philippines peace panel in the Netherlands where a bilateral ceasefire is being pursued.
“Let us wait and see how the efforts of the national government to end the insurgency problem with unfold,” Mayor Duterte said on a statement released through the City Government of Davao and the City Information Office on Wednesday.
Mayor Sara extended her gratitude to the New People’s Army for promptly responding to her peace offer.
She expressed that the City Government of Davao remains aggressive in its worthwhile pursuit of a lasting peace, which can only be achieved through justice, transformation of communities and empowerment and liberation of people.
Furthermore, the mayor in her statement said that the Gocal Government of Davao is also supportive of President Rodrigo Duterte’s demand for the declaration of a ceasefire as a primary condition to the peace process and shares the position that the NPA must end its taxation or extortion activities, must release all captured soldiers/policemen, and must cease from claiming so-called revolutionary territories.
