Castro hits VP Duterte's anti-peace remarks, 'posturing' as president
At A Glance
- Vice President Sara Duterte's remarks against the Marcos administration's peace initiative with rebels is "alarming" and "detrimental to the pursuit of genuine peace negotiations", said Makabayan solon ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro.
ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro (left), and Vice President Sara Duterte (Facebook)
Vice President Sara Duterte's remarks against the Marcos administration's peace initiative with rebels is "alarming" and "detrimental to the pursuit of genuine peace negotiations".
Thus, said Makabayan solon ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro on Tuesday, Dec. 5 even as she questioned Duterte's supposed "posturing" as if she was the sitting chief executive.
"The remarks made by Vice President Sara Duterte are detrimental to the pursuit of genuine peace negotiations. By posturing as if she is the president of the country and questioning the first steps to a peace negotiation between the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), she is undermining the efforts to address the roots of the armed conflict in the Philippines," Castro said in a statement Tuesday, Dec. 5.
"It is alarming that the Vice President has labeled the government's recent statement with the NDF in Oslo as an 'agreement with the devil' and has expressed opposition to the grant of amnesty to former rebels," she added.
"These statements reflect a lack of understanding of the complexities of the peace process and a disregard for the aspirations of the Filipino people for just and lasting peace," the deputy minority leader further said.
The NDFP is the negotiating arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which the Vice President abhors and consistently assails.
"Instead of promoting war, we call on the Vice President and those she represents to support efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the armed conflict in the country," Castro said.
The militant lawmaker noted that the NDFP has "demonstrated its commitment to engage in peace negotiations, and it is imperative that all parties involved uphold sincerity and respect in these discussions".
"The peace talks under the previous administration devolved into threats and recrimination, with the government officially cutting them off in 2017. It is crucial to learn from past experiences and work towards addressing the causes of the armed conflict through dialogue and diplomacy," added Castro.
Rodrigo Duterte, the Vice President's father, is incumbent President Marcos' direct predecessor. He occupied the Palace seat from 2016 to 2022.