DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana yesterday said he will leave to President Duterte’s decision the resumption of the government’s peace talks with the New People’s Army (NPA).
He said this in response to the pronouncements made by over 60 members of the House of Representatives urging the government to talk with the rebels again.
“I will have to defer to the decision of the President if he wants to pursue the talks but the Defense Department will not approach the peace talks,” Lorenzana said.
“Initially I am opposed to the peace talks but we will find out what they really want to happen because we have been talking to them for the past several decades… nothing is happening. Now, why are they forcing the government? It seems they are begging for peace talks again so I don’t know what is the purpose of this,” he said.
In November last year, Duterte signed Proclamation 30, ordering the termination of all peace negotiations and meetings with the rebel group.
The termination was an offshoot of the rebel atrocities and other acts of violence against civilians, and security forces.
“Initially I do not agree to this peace talks but I have to talk to the President first and get his sense because he has more information than me which come from the outside. After I talk to him, it would be his decision to pursue the peace talks. We have to abide but personally I am not in favor of it,” said Lorenzana. (pna)
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