PH gov't, NDFP agree to resume peace talks

The Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines have agreed to resume the stalled peace negotiations after their representatives signed a joint statement for "a principled and peaceful resolution to the armed conflict."

In separate news conferences, the two sides announced the joint communique that was signed in Oslo on November 23 and which adverted to the need to "unite as a nation" amid socioeconomic and environmental issues, and "foreign security threats." 

"Cognizant of the serious socioeconomic and environmental issues, and the foreign security threats facing the country, the parties recognize the need to unite the nation in order to urgently address these challenges and resolve the reasons for the armed conflict," the joint statement said.

"The parties agree to a principled and peaceful resolution of the armed conflict. Resolving the roots of the armed conflict and ending the armed struggle shall pave the way for the transformation of the CPP-NPA-NDFP," it added.

The statement was signed for the Philippine government by Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Carlito Galvez, and Special Representative Emmanuel Bautista.

For the NDFP, the joint statement was signed by National Executive Council Member Luis Jalandoni, interim Negotiating Panel chairperson Julieta De Lima, and panel member Coni Ledesma.

Special Representative to the Philippines Kristina Lie Revheim signed for Norwegian government as third party facilitator.

"The parties acknowledge the deep-rooted socioeconomuc and political grievances and agree to come up with a framework that sets the priorities for the peace negotiation with the aim of achieving the relevant socioeconomic and poliical reforms towards a just and last peace," the joint statement said.

"Such framework, that will set the parameters for the final peace agreemet, shall be agreed upon by both parties.Consequently, we envision and look forward to a country where a united people can live in peace and prosperity," it added.

'Start anew'

In Malacañang, Galvez expressed optimism over the chances of the peace process with the communist rebels under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"I am honored to deliver upon the instruction of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Oslo Joint Communiqué,'' Galvez said.

''This joint communiqué highlights a significant milestone in the quest of the Filipino people to achieve peace, reconciliation, and unity," he added.

 Asked if there will be a resumption of the peace negotiations, Galvez said, "We will start anew... from the start talaga.''

''Nakikita ko the President is very positive. Based on our briefing, maganda 'yung perspective... Even the other party, they are very confident. Maganda 'yung ating experience with Oslo,'' Galvez said.

(I can see that the President is very positive. Based on our briefing, maganda 'yung perspective... Even the other party, they are very confident. We had a good experience with Oslo.) 

Asked if there will be a ceasefire with the rebels, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said law enforcement programs of the government will continue.

''As Secretary Galvez has said, these are preliminary exploratory talks and all programs security law enforcement programs of the government shall continue,'' Teodoro said.

'Marcos' own good'

In Oslo, De Lima cited the significance of Marcos' openness to pursuing peace with the NDFP considering that it was during the administration of his father, the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., when the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army were formed more than 50 years ago.

"I think it would be to his own good that the armed conflict maybe resolved during his term," said De Lima, the widow of CPP founder and NDFP chief political consultant Jose Ma. Sison. 

De Lima said the NDFP would bring up some "impediments" such as the release of NDFP consultants and political prisoners, and the terrorist designation of the NDFP.

As for the timeline for the formal talks, Ledesma said, "Pinag-uusapan pa (It is still being discussed)." 

"Maybe next year. What we can only answer and the most certain thing is we have signed a joint statement and we are eager to move faster," she added.

The NFDP also mentioned that the abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) will also be addressed in the coming negotiations.

'Lessons'

Jalandoni said both parties can now formally go back to the negotiating table with the joint statement.

He said they will build on past achievements and learn from previous lessons to push the peace talks forward.

“With the aim of both achieving relevant socioeconomic and political reforms towards a just and lasting peace for our people, hence, after a long hiatus, the parties will again formally go back to the negotiating table even as we build on past achievements and learn from previous lessons alike,” Jalandoni said. 

He said that the joint communique only indicated the resumption of the formal peace negotiations but is not the actual resumption of the formal talks.

"We hope that the needs of the Filipino people will be uppermost in our upcoming deliberations," said Jalandoni.

According to Ivan Mayrina's report on "24 Oras," the negotiations for the resumption of the peace talks lasted for two years. 

The NDFP will start torming its negotiating panel.

Its chair Fidel Agcaolili died in July 2020 while Sison passed away in December 2022.

“The initiative of General Bautista was welcomed by Joma Sison and he gave importance to this initiative so this was borne from important fruits so we recognize the initiative of General Bautista and his team," Jalandoni said.

'Welcome development'

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) welcomed the signing of the joint statement, which they said may bring lasting peace. 

“This is very good news for us because it is the soldier, more than anybody else, who wants lasting peace. Who wants this conflict to finally end…This is a personal victory for us,” said AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. 

Brawner Jr. also said that ending the years-long conflict with the CPP-NPA will also help the military shift its focus on external or territorial defense. 

“If this conflict will finally end, your AFP will be able to shift our focus to external or territorial defense. Ang aming (Our) resources, efforts will be poured into defending territory,” he said. 

“Pero habang wala pa pong (But while there is no) final agreement (yet), your AFP  will continue our operations against the New People’s Army,” Brawner Jr. added. 

PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda expressed a similar sentiment, saying: “I look at it as a way of adding more food to the table sa mga Pilipino (of the Filipinos)".

“This is a very welcome development. I hope this will lead really to long and lasting peace,” he said. 

'Acceptable closure'

Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año expressed optimism the exploratory talks may lead to a peace agreement that will eradicate communist insurgency in the country. 

“I think it is about time to have closure that is acceptable to everybody, to the Filipino people, particularly, ending the armed struggle,” said Año. 

“Kung magtutuloy-tuloy ito, lahat ng conflict natatapos sa settlement...Maybe this is the final agreement that we can come into and matapos na rin ang armed struggle. If they can avail the amnesty, I think matatapos na itong five decades of communist insurgency,” he added. 

(If this will lead to a settlement and a final agreement, the armed struggle will end. If they can avail the amnesty, I think five decades of communist insurgency will stop.)

The programs of NTC-ELCAC will continue in the meantime, including training and development projects, he added.

Terminated in 2017

Then President Rodrigo Duterte on Nov. 23, 2017 signed a proclamation declaring the termination of peace talks with the communist rebels, Malacañang announced Thursday night.

Duterte has also directed the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) Panel for Peace Talks with the CPP-NPA-NDFP to cancel peace talks and meetings with the communist rebels. 

“While we agreed to resume peace talks with the aforementioned group and exerted our best efforts to accelerate the signing and implementation of the final peace agreement, the NDFP-CPP-NPA has engaged in acts of violence and hostilities,” then Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

“We find it unfortunate that their members have failed to show their sincerity and commitment in pursuing genuine and meaningful peaceful negotiations,” he added. —with a report from Sundy LocusAOL/NB, GMA Integrated News