[Manila Bulletin] Philippine president Duterte is willing to grant concessions, including awarding of public lands, to communist insurgents and Muslim rebels as part of the peace negotiations. Duterte said, "We can only talk and if you are able to convince the communists, they would require a huge amount, resources. They will not go into a surrendering mode by just simply dropping the guns. They would ask for concessions. Concessions would be land, which is very good. I agree with them, I can open up the whole, the entire Republic of the Philippines, all public lands ibigay ko, tutal hindi naman nagagamit, especially for food."The Philippine president said he would be happy, not only giving such land, but also funds amounting to "another billions of pesos" to the insurgents in talks with the government. Duterte admitted there would be a "huge expenditure" to develop the Muslim territory since "they have lost that initiative for all of these years, they’ve been fighting for their land."
In an unprecedented move, the Philippine government has declared a ceasefire with communist insurgents, released several political prisoners, and tapped some left-leaning activists to the Cabinet. Meanwhile, the Duterte said he would hold a meeting with MNLF founding leader, Nur Misuari, this week to advance the peace process in Mindanao. Law enforcers have been ordered not to arrest Misuari, who has long been wanted for the deadly Zamboanga siege in 2013.
Duterte said, "That's my order to the police and the military. Why? I am not a war-type president. My job is to seek peace for my land. So you have to talk to everybody."
The Philippine president said he leaves it to leaders of different MNLF factions – Misuari, Muslimin Sema, and Abul Khayr Alonto, who is chair of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) – on how to "fix internal dynamics" but he said the three of them are willing to talk again.
Duterte also reiterated the need to address the fighting in Mindanao stemming from the historical injustices committed by American and Spanish colonizers against the Moro people.