Government optimistic on peace talks but...

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The government views with guarded optimism the peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) which resume in Rome starting tomorrow until Jan. 25.

Presidential adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza said yesterday that the third round of talks would center on unfinished discussions on the proposed bilateral ceasefire vis-a-vis issues on the release of prisoners.

“The crucial agenda items on socio economic reforms, constitutional, political reforms and end of hostilities and disposition of forces are on the table for discussions. These issues, although difficult, are surmountable with both sides sharing common aspirations for peace,” Dureza said.

But Fidel Agcaoili, the communists’ chief negotiator, is not as hopeful as he believes that ending one of Asia’s longest insurgencies with a peace pact would not be possible before 2019.

The National Democratic Front, CPP’s political arm, also warned that forces on the ground were urging an end to a ceasefire as they became frustrated with the government’s “broken promises.”

“The NDF goes into the third round of formal talks in Rome determined as always to persevere with the peace talks but increasingly troubled by the other party’s sincerity,” Agcaoili said in a statement.

He added that the communists would need at least two more years after negotiators agreed on a series of economic and political reforms before even beginning “serious discussions” on a final peace pact.

Those economic and political reforms have yet to be agreed, and are meant to be discussed in Rome.

President Duterte, who describes himself as a socialist, has made ending the rebellion one of his top priorities in June last year and installed three communists in his Cabinet.

Military records showed at least 30,000 people have died in the conflict as the communists waged their “national democratic revolution” since 1968 to overthrow a capitalist system that has created one of Asia’s biggest rich-poor divides.

Dureza said the preparatory work and engagements, led by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III for the government and Agcaoili for the CPP, “even before the third round of talks auger well for possible significant progress with the hosting and facilitation of the Norwegian team headed by Ambassador Elisabeth Slattum.”

The President has instructed the government panel to work for an early settlement of the issues as he calls on the nation to provide support to the efforts to ultimately bring peace in the land.

“The outcomes of the third round of talks can bring us closer to achieving some possible milestones for sustainable peace,” Dureza added.

Poker game

The communists have long demanded the release of hundreds of jailed communists before they consider making major concessions in the peace talks.

Duterte ordered the release of at least 18 top leaders to kickstart the peace process but the rebels wanted the immediate freedom for 434 rebels, a condition that the President said he could not give straightaway.

He described the negotiations as a “poker game.”

“My aces are in prison,” he said, referring to the jailed communists. “If I released them all my cards would lose. There would be nothing else to talk about.”

Bello said the government is still sticking to its timeframe to secure a peace deal in nine to 12 months since the start of talks in August last year.

He added that he has told the communists that it would be to their advantage not to delay the process, or they would risk not being able to finalize a pact before Duterte’s term ends in 2022.

Agcaoili said the prospect of a permanent ceasefire was “growing dim” because of the prisoner issue as he also accused security forces of violating the current temporary ceasefire. – With Jose Rodel Clapano