Dureza: Backchannel talks with CPP-NPA-NDF canceled following Cotabato attack on PSG convoy

Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza on Wednesday announced that backchannel talks with the National Democratic Front are canceled following the New People’s Army attack on a Presidential Security Group convoy earlier in the day in Arakan, Cotabato.

“I am announcing the cancellation of backchannel talks with the CPP/NPA/NDF originally set within the next few days in Europe due to recent developments involving attacks done by the NPAs,” Dureza said.

“The situation on the ground necessary to provide the desired enabling environment for the conduct of peace negotiations are still not present up to this time,” he added.

Dureza earlier confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte approved of the backchannel talks during his meeting with the government peace panel last night in Malacañang.

Earlier in the day, Malacañang announced that Duterte is firm on his stand not to talk peace with the communists if they will not stop their hostilities against the government.

The Palace said Duterte stressed this during his meeting with government negotiators led by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III in Malacañang on Tuesday night.

“President Duterte, for his part, stressed that the Reds really need to stop engaging the military in Mindanao if they want to continue the peace negotiations, adding that the government has always dealt with the communist rebels in good faith,” Malacañang said.

Meanwhile, Dureza’s announcement of the backchannel talks cancellation came hours after communist insurgents fired upon the PSG convoy in Cotabato.

The ensuing firefight resulted in the wounding of four PSG personnel. 

An initial report from the Police Region Office 12 said an unidentified civilian was killed in the incident while an alleged asset of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group was abducted. — RSJ/KVD, GMA News