Philippines | Communist rebels welcome Cabinet post offer

Communist rebel leaders welcomed yesterday a possible offer from the Philippines’ presumptive president-elect of four Cabinet posts, raising the prospect of a government that includes Marxist guerrillas who have long demanded an end to the U.S. military presence and the redistribution of land.
Rodrigo Duterte has said he will likely offer the Communist Party of the Philippines Cabinet positions in agrarian reform, environment, social welfare and labor.
“The CPP and the revolutionary forces welcome the possibility of joining presumptive President Duterte in an alliance government, whether in the form of assigning Cabinet positions to the CPP or its endorsees or some other more radical form of unity government which the maverick new president might be open to consider,” the party said in a statement.

Members of the communist New Peoples Army have their faces painted to hide their identity during the celebration of the 42nd anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines at Mt. Diwata

It said an alliance would need to be based on principles such as social justice and national sovereignty, including an end to the presence of U.S. troops.
American troops have no permanent bases in the country, but hold regular joint exercises and have backed Philippine troops fighting Abu Sayyaf militants in the south.
It remains to be seen what common ground could be forged.
While Duterte’s proposed offer of Cabinet posts could foster peace talks, any major political concessions are likely to be complicated, given the many years of fighting and enmity between the rebels and government forces.
Business and industry leaders would also likely oppose demands such as an end to contractualization, the widespread practice of short-term employment, and higher wages. The government has also relied on closer military ties with the United States amid an increasingly tense territorial dispute with China over areas of the South China Sea.
The party said in its statement that it anticipates Duterte’s offer would be followed by peace negotiations in which key policy changes could be discussed thoroughly, because he knows “that what is more important to the revolutionary forces are the necessary changes in the policies and programs that govern these departments and the entire government.”

obama congratulates presumptive philippine president

President Barack Obama offered his congratulations to the new presumptive president of the Philippines who has attracted controversy over his iron-fisted approach to law and order.
The White House said Obama and Rodrigo Duterte spoke by phone in their first conversation since Duterte declared victory.
Obama noted high voter turnout in the election was a sign of the Philippines’ “vibrant democracy,” and he highlighted the two nations’ “shared commitments to democracy, human rights, rule of law and inclusive economic growth,” a statement said.
“For us, the priorities will remain the security and prosperity of the Philippines.”