VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Panelo falsely claims Duterte has always been open to peace talks with Reds

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo wrongly claimed that President Rodrigo Duterte has always kept a “window” open to peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its founding chair Jose Maria Sison.

STATEMENT

In a Jan. 2 radio interview, Panelo was asked about the status of the peace talks between the Duterte government and the CPP, its armed wing, the New People’s Army, and the National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

He said:

“Unang-una palaging sinasabi niya (Duterte) na, ‘Meron akong puwang diyan, may bintana ako palagi diyan. Sapagkat para sa akin ayaw ko nang magkaroon ng patayan ng mga kapwa Pilipino’ (Not really. First and foremost, [the president has] always said that he is open to it, that the window is always open. Because [he] does not want Filipinos killing each other anymore.)…’”

Source: Presidential Communications Operations Office, Interview with Secretary Salvador Panelo by Ted Failon/Failon Ngayon/DZMM, Jan. 2, 2020

FACT

Contrary to Panelo’s claim, Duterte, based on his public pronouncements, was not always “open” to talking peace with the CPP-NPA-NDF. (See VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Duterte blows hot and cold with the Reds)

The president had been inconsistent with his dealings with the communist rebels even before and after he officially terminated the peace negotiations in November 2017 and declared the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization a month later. (See VERA FILES FACT SHEET: Why ‘red-tagging’ is dangerous)

In 2019 alone, Duterte had changed his mind on the issue several times. Watch this video.

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Panelo falsely claims Duterte has always been open to peace talks with Reds from VERA Files on Vimeo.