Vice President Sara Duterte has countered the decision of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. to grant amnesty to former and present members of rebel and insurgent groups as part of his administration's peace initiatives.
In a video statement posted on her official Facebook page on Monday, Dec. 4, the Vice President stressed that the proclamation granting amnesty to rebel and insurgent groups, including the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDF), was not the way toward peace.
"Sumusuporta ako sa mga hakbang para itaguyod ang kapayapaan sa bansa because the fight against terrorists is deeply personal to me, as it is deeply personal to the families of countless Filipinos whose lives were forever upended because of the madness of terrorists. Pero hindi ang pagbibigay ng amnestiya ang daan sa kapayapaan," Duterte said.
"Ang dapat nating gawin ay ipagpatuloy ang ating mga nasimulan sa NTF-ELCAC [National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict] at mas palakasin pa ang mga ito. Panalo na tayo, lumalaban na ang mga komunidad," she added.
The Vice President recalled the bloody terrorist attacks in Davao City when she was still the incumbent Mayor in 2017.
"Mga kababayan, walang katulad ang kasamaan ng teroristang Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, at National Democratic Front of the Philippines sa kapwa nila Pilipino," she underlined.
Duterte pointed out that countless civilians died at the hands of terrorists and that many law enforcement authorities have sacrificed their lives to protect Filipino communities.
According to the Vice President, the families of the slain victims may not attain justice if their perpetrators were given amnesty.
Duterte then criticized the joint pact known as the "Oslo Communique" that was signed between the national government and the NDF last end-November, calling this as "an agreement with the devil."
"Napatunayan na natin sa kasaysayan na hindi sila seryoso at wala silang sinseridad sa usaping pangkapayapaan. Gagamitin nila itong peace negotiation sa pagtraydor sa pamahalaan at paglinlang sa taumbayan. We appeal to your power to review these proclamations and agreements," she added.
The Vice President called on Marcos to "honor the memory of those who died in the senseless and bloody attacks of the NPA-CPP-NDFP."
"Mr. President, we can negotiate for peace and reconciliation and pursue meaningful development efforts in the Philippines without capitulating to the enemy," Duterte furthered.
