Peace talks are unlikely

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The Marcos II regime is predisposed towards continuing Rodrigo Duterte’s policy of hindering the peace talks, weaponizing the Anti-Terror Law to intensify state terrorism, red-tagging, mass arrests, torture and mass murder in a vain attempt to end the people’s democratic revolution. This was the statement of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Chief Political Consultant Jose Maria Sison on the day of Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s inauguration.

There are no indications that Marcos would negotiate peace, he said. It is also unlikely to resume under the GRP’s current all-out war policy. “There is nothing that the NDFP can do to resume the peace negotiations if the GRP insists on carrying out an all-out war policy,” Sison said.

Not once did the fascist Marcos I dictatorship engage in peace negotiations nor was it able to crush the revolutionary movement, he added. Instead, this movement of the people succeeded in expanding nationwide…ultimately causing the downfall of the fascist dictatorship.”

Previous heads of the reactionary state—from Cory Aquino to Rodrigo Duterte—all had the same objective of using peace negotiations to pay lip service to the cause of peace, carry out widespread surveillance against revolutionaries and preserve the exploitative and oppressive ruling system. At the same time, they try to put the NDFP into a position of capitulation, Professor Sison said.

He also said Marcos Jr “lacks any moral authority” having been “elected” to the presidency through a rigged elections with the help of the tyrant Duterte and his cabal in the Comelec.

“He can dream of having a second chance for his dynasty to destroy the revolutionary movement,” Sison said. “But he ought to remember that this movement is now much bigger and stronger than when Marcos Sr failed to destroy it.”

However, the NDFP is always open to peace negotiations with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines whoever its president is.

“If the administration is willing to talk, why not?” he said. “Resuming peace negotiations is quite easy,” Sison said. The GRP or Marcos Jr simply needs to reaffirm agreements that were previously agreed upon and signed by the two parties.

Peace talks are unlikely