The new leadership of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) has recognized localized peace talks initiated by the Davao City government with the rebel New People’s Army.
Newly-installed EastMinCom commander Lt. Gen Benjamin Madrigal told Davao reporters he welcomes the initiative of Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio to resolve the problem of insurgency in the city ‘peacefully’.
Madrigal, however said “the outcome will depend on the direction of our national leaders.” When asked if his command is willing to pull out the military troops in the remote areas of the city as a prelude to the peace talks, he replied, “This will depend on what will be the agreement between both parties.”
“We will have to consult our leaders who are actively engaged in the peace process, regarding this matter,” he said.
Madrigal said that peace dialogues should be discussed within the community. For his part, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero said he supports the localized peace talks of the city but they cannot ‘discount’ any possible threats to the community.
“We cannot discount the fact that as your AFP, we need also to address the armed threats,” Guerrero said.
Earlier, Duterte-Carpio said she wants to continue the dialogue with the CPP-NPA despite the rejection of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
This is because, the mayor said, she has a duty to pursue just and lasting peace in the city as the representative of the City Government of Davao. She said she believes that this initiative can help achieve peace in the city but it will really depend on the rebels if they sincerely want to talk peace with the local government.
Duterte-Carpio said that Local Peace Committee (DC PEACE) is given up to November 30 of next year and if there is no progress with the dialogue, she will order to stop it because there is no point to talk with the rebels if they do not want peace in the city.
