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STREETWISE: Dark clouds over GPH-NDFP peace talks

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By Carol P. Araullo
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s dramatic declaration of a unilateral ceasefire vis a vis the CPP-NPA-NDFP to usher in the peace talks slated to resume on August 20 was, for all intents and purposes, one of the high points of his one-and-a-half-hour-long State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 25.  He said it was to be effective immediately.
The President’s announcement was generally met with applause, enthusiasm and great expectations. The public awaited a similar declaration from the CPP-NPA-NDFP leadership in reciprocation of Mr. Duterte’s bold and grand gesture.

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Youth, sectoral groups form human chain for peace

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YOUTH and sectoral groups formed a “human chain” at Mendiola, Manila last Friday to support the resumption of the formal peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

The human chain is part of the metro-wide action led by Kapayapaan, a group of advocates who call for a just and lasting peace, in anticipation of the formal negotiations in Oslo, Norway presumably on August 20 to 27. Read more

Duterte approves new ‘inclusive’ peace roadmap

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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has approved the new “inclusive roadmap to peace,” Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said in a press conference, Tuesday.

“There will be inclusivity in Duterte’s roadmap to peace,” Dureza said.

He explained that the approved “inclusive roadmap” will go over the engagements with the Bangsamoro factions, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the closure of arguments with other rebel groups. Read more

Cabinet secretary joins human chain for peace

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Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano joined this morning’s Human Chain for Just and Lasting Peace at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

In anticipation of the resumption of formal peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in Oslo, Norway in August, the activity is one of the support activities organized by progressive organizations. Read more

Karapatan on the postponement of the GRP-NDFP peace talks

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KARAPATAN secretary general Cristina Palabay talks about the postponement of the resumption of formal talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Earlier this week, the GRP announced that it will ask the NDFP for a month-long postponement to effect the release of NDFP consultants and allow them to participate in the formal talks.

Both parties originally scheduled their formal talks on the third week of this month. Read more

GRP to ask NDFP for peace talks postponement

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THE GOVERNMENT peace panel has decided to postpone the resumption of its formal peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) anew to August 20 to 27.

Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) chief peace negotiator and Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III told Kodao Productions this morning that they will first have to secure the release of NDFP negotiators who are still detained.

Bello said that they still have to formally inform the NDFP of the adjustment.

Both panels originally scheduled the talks on the third week of this month but later entertained the possibility of rescheduling the formal negotiations on the last week of July or second week of August for the GRP to effect the release of more than 20 Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG)-protected NDFP consultants and staff.

The GRP through its peace panel member Hernani Braganza also said that they want the formal talks to be held after President Rodrigo Duterte’s first State of the Nation Address on July 25.

The NDFP through its chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison earlier said they are willing to give the GRP time to release NDFP consultants Allan Jazmines, Benito Tiamzon, Wilma Austria and others JASIG-protected consultants.

Asked earlier about the possibility of another postponement, Sison told Kodao that it is better to ask the GRP on the final dates. (Raymund B. Villanueva)

GRP completes panel lineup

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MANILA—The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) has completed its peace panel in time for the anticipated resumption for formal talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) later this month, its chief negotiator in an interview said.

GRP negotiating panel chief and Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello said they have completed their negotiating team with the addition of two lawyers who will represent marginalized sectors.

“Now we have Atty. Angela Librado, who will represent the women sector,  and Atty. Noel Felongco who will represent the indigenous peoples,” Bello said.  Read more

Bello on moving forward with the peace talks

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CHIEF government negotiator Silvestre Bello III speaks about their impending resumption of formal talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

In this video, Bello warns about ‘enemies of peace’ who may attempt to derail the talks to embarrass President Rodrigo Duterte. He also mentions those who have ideological disputes with the NDFP, war hawks and those with ‘distorted’ political agenda as groups that do not want the formal peace negotiations to succeed.

Watch the full video on the prospects of the GRP-NDFP peace talks. (Interview by Raymund Villanueva / Video by Pom Cahilog-Villanueva)

No contradiction in safe conduct pass for NDFP consultants–Bello

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MANILA—The government’s chief negotiator does not see contradictions between earlier announced plans to release National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultants and President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent statement that he will only issue them safe conduct passes.

In his speech at the Philippine Air Force anniversary celebrations last July 5, Duterte said he “…is not ready to release everybody” but will only issue safe conduct passes for NDFP consultants Jose Maria Sison, Benito Tiamzon, Wilma Austria and NDFP panel chairperson Luis Jalandoni.

In May, NDFP spokesperson and peace panel member Fidel Agcaoili announced that Duterte told him he plans on issuing a general amnesty order for all political prisoners, numbering more than 500. Read more

The Significance of the June 14-15 Preliminary Talks in Oslo

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by Rey Claro Casambre

Philippine Peace Center

Regardless of its outcome,  by the mere fact of its being held, the preliminary or exploratory talks in Oslo between the incoming GPH peace negotiating panel and the NDFP panel last June 14-15 has already earned a distinction of its own in the long history of the GPH-NDFP peace negotiations. Read more