Next government-NDF talks to be held in October

MANILA, Philippines - The peace panels of the Philippine government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) will resume their second round of formal talks in Norway this October.

In an eight-page joint statement concluding the first round of formal peace talks held from Aug. 22-26 in Oslo, Norway, the two panels expressed their commitment to resume the negotiations in order to resolve the armed conflict by addressing its root causes.

They agreed to meet again in Oslo on Oct. 8-12 this year.

The most significant result of the first round of formal talks was their agreement to immediately recommend to President Duterte the granting of amnesty to the rebels.

The panels also agreed to implement an “indefinite unilateral ceasefire,” which became effective yesterday.

In a joint statement, the panels said the joint ceasefire agreement came about in response to President Duterte’s declaration of a unilateral ceasefire that took effect from Aug. 21.

“The negotiating panels agreed to work through their respective ceasefire committees to reconcile and develop their separate… orders into a single unified bilateral document within 60 days date of this Joint Statement. Said document shall be subject to the approval of their respective principals,” the joint statement read.

The panels also discussed the prospective adoption of the annexes to the bilateral ceasefire agreement and the prospective role of a third party in ceasefire monitoring and mediation in relation to the implementation of the ceasefire, and the handling of complaints and alleged violations of the ceasefire agreement.

The NDF panel expressed its appreciation and acknowledged the Philippine government and the efforts of President Duterte in ordering the release of its consultants under the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) signed on Feb. 24, 1995.

Lawmakers hailed the joint panels in declaring the indefinite ceasefire.

However, some concerns were raised about some of the details of the agreement.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said the ceasefire declared by the CPP-NPA-NDF “is the most welcome development so far achieved by the Duterte administration that could hopefully put an end to our decades-old insurgency problem.”

“The list of demands apart from the release and the grant of general amnesty to all political prisoners and how the government will respond bear watching though because that will be the focal point and in fact, the success or collapse of the peace talks will depend on (it),” Lacson said.

Sen. Grace Poe said the declaration of an indefinite ceasefire on the side of the CPP-NPA-NDF “is a positive development to at least ensure that there is no further loss of lives among our countrymen as both panels negotiate for that much elusive peace settlement.”

“I join our people in looking forward to finally settle this decades long insurgency this time around,” she said.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, a member of the Liberal Party, said the Duterte administration should be commended for its efforts to attain peace, not only with communist insurgents, but also with Muslim secessionists.

Pangilinan said he is supportive of the proposed grant of general amnesty, which would have to go through Congress for approval if this is endorsed by the executive branch.

“Ending the bloodshed of Filipinos by fellow Filipinos over age-old problems of poverty, inequality, and injustice is a big step forward toward ending these root causes of the armed conflict, these triple threat obstacles to progress and peace,” he said.

For his part, Sen. Vicente Sotto III said he was not comfortable with the mention of a coalition government by the CPP-NPA-NDF, which was previously rejected by President Duterte.

Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat said the government should institute mechanisms to monitor the ceasefire at the local level.

Baguilat said that despite the ceasefire agreement, there had been skirmishes between government troops and NPA rebels in several provinces in Northern Luzon.

Baguilat stressed the need to set up ceasefire monitors to ensure compliance of the truce at the local level.

Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto said the government forces could focus on putting an end to the Abu Sayyaf now that an indefinite ceasefire has been forged with the communist insurgents.

“If the truce with the New People’s Army will relieve the military of fighting a war in one front, then perhaps they can concentrate on finishing off the Abu Sayyaf,” Recto said.

“I think this is one dividend we would like to see – for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to have its undivided attention on Abu Sayyaf,” he added.

The military, for its part, lauded the CPP-NPA-NDF’s move to reciprocate the indefinite ceasefire declared by President Duterte.

“It is a laudable move on the part of the CPP-NPA-NDF to respond positively to President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of reimposition of the ceasefire ‘for as a long as necessary’ to attain lasting peace in the land,” AFP Public Affairs Office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said.

Arevalo pointed out that the AFP will continue to uphold the letter and spirit of the government’s unilateral ceasefire declaration.

“The nation can rely on every soldier, sailor, marines and airmen to help provide an environment conducive to peace so that negotiators from both panels can work under the climate of trust and prospect of reconciliation,” Arevalo said.

Window for peace

With the ceasefire on both sides, President Duterte said the country is in the best position for peace.

“We are in the best position now. There is a window now and we have to take stock of everything,” he said.

Duterte said the country has been given the window for peace because of the ceasefire agreement with the communists.

“There is the window for peace. We are not fighting the communists. And by the grace of Allah, MI (Moro Islamic Liberation Front), MN (Moro National Liberation Front) have expressed their desire to talk. MI, I salute you guys – they even surrendered the drug addicts under their custody,” Duterte addressed the troops during the 10th anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City on Friday.

Duterte said he wants the window to remain open.

Duterte told the troops to abide by the unilateral ceasefire he initially declared with the communist rebels.

“We just talked about peaceful things, they are doing well. We have declared the ceasefire – just observe it please so they can talk there without a ruckus and everything,” he said.

Duterte said the communist rebels are also sincere in their desire for peace.

“I sensed that they are also tired of fighting. Because you know why? They have allowed the Left to join my government,” he said. – Christina Mendez, Marvin Sy, Edith Regalado, Jaime Laude, Artemio Dumlao