Philippines’ president-elect offers olive branch to communist chief

The leader of the Philippines’ communist insurgency will be welcome to return home after nearly three decades in exile and participate in peace talks, president-elect Rodrigo Duterte has said.

Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison wrote in a Facebook post last week that he hoped to come home following the landslide May 9 election win of Duterte, with whom he has maintained ties while living in the Netherlands.

“I do not begrudge the NPAs [communist New People’s Army] in looking for firearms,” Duterte said at a press conference yesterday. “But when I reach my oath-taking ... they must realise I am the government and I am the enemy but I offer my hand in peace and we can talk.”

Duterte saidon Sunday that Sison’s return to the Philippines would be important in helping to end the rebellion. The insurgency was one of Asia’s longest and has claimed an estimated 30,000 lives since
the 1960s.

“Yes, he is welcome. I am happy with the statement that he is coming home,” Duterte said in the southern city of Davao where he has served as mayor for most of the past two decades. “I would very much want to talk to him about resolving the insurgency problem.”

Duterte also said communist figures would be considered for cabinet posts.