Peace talks with NDF resume in June

MANILA, Philippines — Formal peace talks between the  government and the communist National Democratic Front (NDF) are expected to resume early next month after the two panels reached an interim peace agreement (IPA).

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who also serves as government peace panel chairman, yesterday reported that the government peace panel and NDF negotiators have already come up with an IPA.

“There is ongoing backchannel talks and apparently there is a forward movement and our panel members, including the NDF panel members, have come up with a preliminary peace agreement,”  Bello said in an interview.

Bello said the IPA is expected to “graduate” into a coordinated unilateral ceasefire. 

“Once they come home (from Europe), they will present the agreement to the President for his approval because this will already pave the way for the formal resumption of talks,“ Bello noted.

Bello said the government peace panel is exerting efforts to meet President Duterte’s 60-day deadline for the forging of a peace agreement with the communist group.

“Hopefully the formal resumption (of peace talks) could happen first or second week of June because we have a timeframe,” he pointed out.

Bello expressed hope that the government peace panel and the NDF can sign the peace agreement before the end of June.         

According to Bello, they are also looking into the possibility of holding the formal peace talks with the NDF in the country as President Duterte wishes.

Duterte has expressed preference for the talks to happen in the country with Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Ma. Sison coming from the Netherlands where he has been on self-imposed exile for decades, Bello said.  

“Let’s find out if that is possible,” he added.

Bello earlier reported that the government peace panel was holding backchannel negotiations with the NDF in preparation for the formal resumption of talks.

Aside from the IPA, they are also working on a possible amnesty proclamation to be extended to the NDF, CPP and its armed wing New People’s Army (NPA), subject to the concurrence of Congress.

That the ongoing backchannel talks between the government and the CPP-NPA-NDF are gaining positive results has been confirmed by presidential adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza yesterday.

Dureza and Bello have briefed Duterte about the backchannel talks in Europe.

“Our team is now in Europe and we are informed that there are initial positive results,“ Dureza said.

Dureza added that Duterte was informed about the development after the Cabinet meeting last Monday night, a statement from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process released yesterday read.

Dureza and Bello informed the President that his directives are being relayed “across the table” and are now the subject of discussions in the ongoing meetings.

According to presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr.,  Bello and Dureza have informed the President that the pre-conditions set for the resumption of peace talks are being laid on the table with representatives from the CPP-NPA-NDF.

Before the government goes back to the negotiating table, Duterte wants to have a bilateral ceasefire. He also rejects the rebel groups’ proposal for a coalition government.

The Chief Executive pushed for the CPP-NPA-NDF to stop expansion efforts and recruitment of members.

Meanwhile, the NPA has lost five of its key Milisya ng Bayan members (MBs) from its operational area in Nueva Ecija with their surrender last Monday morning, the military reported yesterday.

Lt. Col. Isagani Nato, spokesman for the Northern Luzon Command, identified the MBs as Walter Pulido, Pio Kaila, Mario Humakey, Delfin and Fredie Dulnuan. 

“The people’s militia plays a critical role in the armed revolution as they are considered to be force multipliers of the regular NPA armed group. They are also tasked to secure their respective barangays in the absence of the regular NPAs as well as (be) information collectors,” Nato said.

A senior security official, meanwhile, said until such time the resumption of peace talks with the NPA has been finalized, military actions against the insurgents will continue across the country.

Capt. Ruel Llanes, 303rd Infantry Brigade spokesman, claimed that NPA rebels yesterday burned heavy equipment and a bunkhouse in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.

Llanes said about 20 armed NPA rebels raided a project site of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and torched a back hoe, generator set and bunkhouse of NIA workers.

Last month, the NPA claimed responsibility in the burning of a tractor in La Castellana, Negros Occidental and a cargo truck in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, for failure of their owners to pay revolutionary taxes.