In a rare rebuke to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Philippines Vice President Sara Duterte voiced her strong opposition on Monday to the government’s decision to resume peace negotiations with communist rebels. Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte who terminated talks in 2017, described the move as a perilous “agreement with the devil.”
Last week, the government and the communist rebels reached a consensus to restart talks after a six-year hiatus, with the aim of bringing an end to the decades-long conflict that has claimed over 40,000 lives.
Duterte expressed concerns that the rebels could exploit the peace negotiations, asserting that their intentions were “insincere” in seeking a resolution. She urged President Marcos to reconsider the policy, particularly the provision granting amnesty to members of the Communist Party of the Philippines, its political arm, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).
In a streamed address on her Facebook page, Duterte stated, “Mr. President, the government’s statement with the NDFP in Oslo was an agreement with the devil. They will use this peace negotiations to betray the government and deceive the public.”
Despite her position as vice president and education secretary, Duterte’s policymaking powers are limited under the Philippine constitution, with her main authority being to succeed the president in case of death or incapacitation.
Duterte, who also holds the role of vice-chair in an anti-communist task force created by her father and currently headed by Marcos, emphasized her concerns about the potential ramifications of reopening peace talks with the rebels.
Marcos and Duterte ran as a tandem in the 2022 national election under the “Uniteam” ticket, marking the first time in Philippine history that top leaders won by majority vote since the restoration of democracy in 1986.
Notably, last month, Marcos hinted at a possible return to the International Criminal Court, a move seen by analysts as a departure from some of his predecessor’s policies, signaling a shift in their political alliance. The presidential communications office has not yet responded to Duterte’s remarks on the peace negotiations with communist rebels.
