Jalandoni resigns, Agcaoili takes over as NDFP panel chair

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) announced Fidel Agcaoili’s assumption as its new negotiating panel chairperson as long-time chief Luis Jalandoni assumes his new role as senior adviser.

Agcaoili, erstwhile panel vice chairperson, is expected to deliver NDFP’s opening statement at the start of their second round of formal peace negotiations with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines today. He is also the chairperson of the NDFP’s Human Rights Committee.

“The national leadership of the NDFP has granted the long-standing request of Comrade Luis G. Jalandoni to resign as the Chairperson of the NDFP Negotiating Panel,” NDFP in a statement said.

“I have been wanting to resign as NDFP panel chairperson since I turned 70 years old. Now that I am 81, I think it is time for the younger ones to take over,” Jalandoni told reporters in a late night press conference here.

“He (Jalandoni) will assume the very important role previously occupied by the late NDFP chairperson Antonio Zumel,” Agcaoili told Kodao.