Captives in the hands of the New People’s Army (NPA) have lost a main ‘negotiator’ for their release.
Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said he has abandoned his role as intermediary in negotiations for release of rebel hostages after he was named as “resource person” by the National Democratic Front (NDF) in peace talks with the Phililippine government.
He said release negotiations should now be handled at the level of the NDF, due to his role with the leftist umbrella of the communist movement in the country.
The NPA, the armed wing of the NDF, now holds 13 hostages in Southern Mindanao: A Surigao del Sur mayor and his two military escorts, four Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) guards seized in Bukidnon and six upholstered bed traders abducted in Paquibato district in Davao City recently.
I don’t want the NDF to suspect that I am not serious about my appointment as resource person if I negotiate the release, said Duterte in the Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa program on ABS/CBN on Sunday.
Duterte is a perennial go-between in release negotiations in the past, going up himself at times to the rebel mountain hideouts to talk with the rebels.
Last month, Duterte was named by Luis Jalandoni, chief NDF negotiator, as resource person for the NDF.
Duterte is set to fly to Norway in October when formal peace negotiations between the NDF and the government starts.
Duterte said the Red Cross or religious organizations could fill in the void with him begging off from negotiating for the release.
THE DURIAN POST 