I have seen very recently the first tell tale signs of the thawing of the relationship between Apo BBM and VP Inday Sara Duterte.
Firstly, the drums of war could be heard when the very disruptive issue of the Confidential Intelligence Fund surfaced.
Secondly, the political tinderbox was lit when it appeared that the Palace, through its many subalterns in Congress, may be headed in the direction of opening the door for the much-ballyhooed ICC probe on the previous regime to commence, including loose talks on the Philippines’ return to the ICC membership.
And then here comes the latest, and the third wheel in the brewing conflagration in the much-vaunted UniTeam.
I guess the country’s second highest official have sent her sternest warning thus far against Malacanang’s latest overtures with the country’s communist Left.
“…The government’s statement with the NDFP in Oslo was an agreement with the devil… Mr. President, we can negotiate for peace and reconciliation… without capitulating to the enemies. Hiling namin na kami ay mapakinggan,” she graphically warned.
Given these dire turn of events, no wonder this call for new exploratory talks with the CPP-NPA- NDFP may sound the death knell for this political tandem that ushered in the administration of the current Palace occupant.
The crux of the matter lies on two things: Can the rebels be trusted? And should they be granted amnesty for all the crime and treasonous acts they have commited in the guise of defending the masses?
If you were living in Davao City, you would understand why Sara is non-negotiable on the issue of granting political amnesty because it will dishonor the memory and the supreme sacrifice by those who were victimised by the terroristic actuations of a few and handful remnants of a moribund communist organ.
For to do so would be tantamount to retreating, of surrendering hard-fought wins on cities and the countryside, unless we are complicit on the abhorrent cause espoused by this much-maligned group whose remaining stray of hope rests solely on the innocent conversion of a few, misled college students by old fogeys into their ideology of terror, fear and deception. (June Duterte/ (Photo courtesy of Northern Samar povincial government)