Sison had previously issued a statement that Duterte is a presidential prospect who is more acceptable to the Left because he has an "open mind" on the issues behind their struggle.
Duterte, who admits publicly that he is ideologically left-leaning, told the Army generals and colonels who shared dinner table with him at a Davao City restaurant Wednesday night that the country should unite and address external problems.
Duterte's call on the communists to give up armed struggle and participate in the democratic processes to achieve change was received positively by the Armed Forces officers, many of whom have seen action against the communists.
Many of them have also lost foot soldiers and even young officers in the 40-year Communist insurgency which is considered as the "longest Communist revolution" in the world.
Duterte is known to have open lines with the NPA, which enabled him to secure the release of soldiers and policemen who were captured and held captive by the rebels.
The Davao City Mayor also communicates directly with fugitive Nur Misuari of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) led by Murad Ebrahim.
Recently, Duterte allowed a public mourning for one of the most wanted communist rebel leader who was killed by the military in an encounter, Leoncio Pitao, alias Kumander Parago, whom he considered a friend.
"We cannot continue killing fellow Filipinos. We really have to get our acts together and heal the wounds of this country," Duterte said.
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on August 08, 2015.
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