NDFP panel chairman Fidel Agcaoili dies in Utrecht

The chairman of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace panel has passed away, the NDFP said on Thursday night.

Fidel Agcaoili died in Utrecht of "pulmonary arterial rupture." He was 75.

Agcaoili’s remains will be flown back to the Philippines “in accordance with the wishes of his family,” the NDFP said in a statement.

“The NDFP announces with deep sorrow the untimely passing of Ka Fidel V. Agcaoili today, 23 July 2020 at 12:45pm in Utrecht, The Netherlands,” it said.

“He would have turned 76 on 8 August,” it added.

Citing Agcaoili’s doctor, the NDFP said he died of pulmonary arterial rupture which caused massive internal bleeding.

The group added that his death was not related to COVID-19.

Agcaoili took over as NDFP chief negotiator in 2016 following Luis Jalandoni’s resignation from the post after more than two decades.  Prior to this, he has served as the vice-chairperson of the panel.

He has been living in exile in Utrecht with NDFP leaders including Jose Maria Sison and Luis Jalandoni.

Last year, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that Agcaoili  and Jalandoni were eyeing to return to the country to meet with him and pursue peace negotiations.  However, this did not push through.

In April this year, Duterte announced anew the scrapping of the peace talks as he accused the New People's Army of killing soldiers on humanitarian missions amid the COVID-19 crisis.—NB/LDF/KBK, GMA News