No meeting yet on peace talks with Reds – Deles

MANILA, Philippines – Informal talks on the resumption of peace negotiations between the government and the communist rebels are ongoing, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles said yesterday.

Deles said these backchannel efforts were a positive development, especially in the light of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Ma. Sison’s pronouncement that the talks would resume after the visit of Pope Francis to the country on Jan. 15 to 19.

“I must state categorically that there have been no meetings” between the Philippine government and National Democratic Front (NDF) to discuss the possible resumption of talks, Deles said.

“It is true, however, that friends of the process have been shuttling between the two parties to explore possible parameters for restarting talks at he earliest time possible,” she added.

So far, Deles said feedback had been positive but “there remain matters to be clarified in order to ensure that, if ever we do resume talks, it will not go the same way of an early, major impasse that has happened too often in the past.”

As they have repeatedly stated since the special negotiations track broke down in February 2013, Deles said they wanted to resume talks on the basis of a doable and time-bound agenda.

“In keeping with the spirit and hope of the Christmas season, I would like to think that Mr. Sison’s very positive remarks indicate that common ground between the two parties may indeed be broadening towards the achievement of a just and durable peace that our people desire and deserve,” Deles said.

Malacañang said it had always believed that dialogue would provide the most viable opportunity for attaining peace.

Deles earlier hinted about a surprise development when she met with the media before the holiday break.

Lawmakers belonging to activist party-list groups expressed hope that the government’s projected peace talks with the NDF would succeed.

“We are always hopeful for the resumption of the peace talks. Government should proceed with utmost goodwill and sincerity as the talks restart and without the preconditions that stalled the talks in the past,” Rep. Terry Ridon of Kabataan said.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said he was informed of the ongoing backroom talks for the resumption of the stalled 2011 negotiations.

“This is a very welcome development that will hopefully jumpstart the substantive agenda of the peace process, like the socio-economic and political reforms,” he said.

Zarate said the two sides should respect the previous agreements that they have signed.

He also urged peace advocates to continue urging both sides to stick to the peace process for the benefit of the people.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said the government and the NPA should be able to establish mutual trust to be able to achieve real peace.

Trillanes batted for the need for sincerity on the part of the CPP-NPA before going back to the negotiating table.

“Mutual trust should be the foundation of any peace talks. I don’t see that right now. The CPP-NPA-NDF should demonstrate more sincerity in their pursuit of justice,” Trillanes said.

“Otherwise, these talks would just be a tactical maneuver for them,” he added.

Sen. Sergio Osmeña III supported the reported resumption of peace talks.

“I favor the renewal of peace talks. As the saying goes, it is better to talk than shoot, shoot. But we should leave to the negotiators the tactical decisions,” he said.

‘No illusions’

The arrival of NDF chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni and wife Connie Ledesma to the country sparked reports of restarting the stalled peace negotiations with the government.

The Jalandonis visited the Tiamzons at their detention cell at the Philippine National Police (PNP) at Camp Crame earlier this month.

A combined military-police team arrested the Tiamzons in Barangay Zaragosa, Aloguinsan town in Cebu in March this year.

The military claims that Benito heads the CPP -New People’s Army, while his wife is its secretary general.

They were arrested on the strength of an arrest warrant. They were facing charges for murder, multiple murder and frustrated murder.

Jalandoni informed the Tiamzon couple the good news about the agreement between the two parties to resume the peace talks.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPPAP) has been notified about the issue but a third party is closely working for the government and the communists to go back to the negotiating table, sources said.

“Apparently, they (NDF) want to also achieve peace… but negotiations are still underway. They are now working on confidence-building measures,” the source said, refusing to add details for lack of authority to speak on the issue.

The CPP, however, said they are not optimistic about the peace talks, saying the negotiations are not likely to yield agreements that will address the country’s problems.

In a statement issued during its 46th anniversary yesterday, CPP said the government is just using the negotiations to pacify the revolutionary forces.

“There should be no illusion that the ongoing peace negotiations with the reactionary government will soon lead to comprehensive agreements on social, economic and political problems as basis for a just and lasting peace,” the CPP said.

“The biggest obstacle in the peace negotiations is the anti-national, anti-democratic and anti-people character of the reactionary government and its current officials who regard the negotiations as the means for the capitulation and pacification of the revolutionary forces and the people,” it added.

The CPP, nevertheless, said the talks allow the NDF to broadcast its program for a democratic revolution and “help bring about the victory of the revolution in the long run.”

The NDF represents the CPP and the NPA in the peace talks with the government. – With Alexis Romero, Jess Diaz, Christina Mendez, Jose Rodel Clapano, Artemio Dumlao