No more peace talks with Duterte, better to oust him —Joma Sison

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines  has given up on the peace talks with the Philippine government under President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a statement, NDFP chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison said the communist movement would be better off working for Duterte's ouster and prepare for peace talks with the next administration.

"Based on the implications draw from the current impasse, the NDFP can no longer negotiate with GRP that is headed by Duterte," said Sison, the founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

"So long as he heads the GRP, the Filipino people, especially the oppressed and exploited, cannot expect any benefit from negotiating with the Duterte regime," he added.

He said that the movement to remove Duterte from power was growing and had become strong enough to eventually oust the President.

"It is relatively easier and more productive for the NDFP to participate in the Oust-Duterte movement and to prepare for peace negotiations with the prospective administration that replaces the Duterte regime," Sison said.

"The broad united front of patriotic and democratic forces has become strong enough to call for and cause the ouster of Duterte. While the urban-based Oust Duterte movement is growing, the CPP, NPA, and the people have to fight and defeat the offensives of the AFP and PNP being unleashed by the Duterte regime," he added.

The formal resumption of peace talks was meant to proceed on June 28 in Norway, but fell through because Duterte said that he needed more time and more consultations before resuming the talks.

A stand-down agreement was signed on June 8 and was supposed to take effect on June 21, a week before the opening of formal talks. —NB, GMA News