The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Peace Negotiating Panel reiterated its commitment to the resumption of formal peace talks as it urged Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) top officials to resolve contradictory views on the negotiations.

In a statement Wednesday, September 4, NDFP panel chairperson Julie de Lima said they remain open and ready to engage the Manila government in peace negotiations but have “observed with concern” mixed and contradictory signals from the GRP.

“On the one hand, General Eduardo Año stated that peace talks are unlikely to proceed. On the other hand, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said they are optimistic that the talks would resume,” de Lima said.

In a dinner-dialogue hosted by the National Security Council (NSC) for members of the press last August 18, Año ruled out the resumption of formal peace negotiations in the near future, alleging that revolutionary forces are in disagreement on the issue of renouncing armed struggle.

“There are objections, resistance from the local level. That’s what is needed to be resolved by the other side. While they can’t resolve their disagreement over whether or not to renounce the armed struggle, nothing will come out of any talks just like in previous negotiations,” Año, the NSC chairperson, claimed.

“Why would we start discussions when the other side can’t even agree amongst themselves?” he added.

But Año’s fellow GRP official, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., readily contradicted him, telling reporters in a Malacañang press briefing last Monday, September 2, that exploratory talks with the NDFP are ongoing.

 ”Ongoing pa rin iyong ating exploratory talks at nakikita po natin na iyong last November nagkaroon tayo ng final, iyong tinatawag nating mission statement,” Galvez said. (The exploratory talks are ongoing and we saw last November that we had a final mission statement.)

“We have three processes in our negotiation. Number one is getting the vision statement, then having the framework agreement, and the final peace agreement,” Galvez explained in a mix of English and Filipino.

The presidential peace adviser assured that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is “very committed to finishing all the peace agreements and implementing them during his term.”

Reds in the regions speak out

Año’s claim that revolutionary forces in the country are debating whether or not to renounce armed struggle prompted various NDFP formations and New People’s Army (NPA) commands to issue statements refuting the NSC chief.

“National Security Adviser Eduardo Año is once again proving to be the leading peace saboteur in the Philippines,” Patnubay de Guia, of NDF-Southern Tagalog spokesperson, said. “This is clear case to again derail the peace talks,” de Guia added.

The NPA’s Melito Glor Command (MGC) in Southern Tagalog for its part said that in essence, “fascist general Año” is challenging the armed revolutionary movement to lay down its arms as a condition for reopening negotiations.”

“This tactic of undermining the peace talks to weaken the NPA and destroy the revolutionary movement is overused,” MGC spokesperson Armando Cienfuego said.

Cleo del Mundo, NPA-Quezon (Apolonio Mendoza Command) spokesperson, also refuted Ano’s allegations, saying “The entire revolutionary movement of the CPP-NPA through its national leadership is united up to the most basic local organizations in engaging and participating in the peace talks.”

Dionesio Magbuelas, NPA-South Central Negros (Mt. Cansermon Command) spokesperson, described Año as a war freak, adding “Año’s statement that the revolutionary forces should first declare not launching an armed struggle before the GRP agrees to the negotiation is illogical and full of contradictions.”

“Año must realize that it is impossible for the Red fighters to simply surrender while so much reason to fight and take up arms prevail,” Magbuelas said.

“Perhaps Año forgets that the armed struggle has prevailed for 55 years,” Bayani Obrero, spokesperson of NDF-Negros Island, meanwhile said.

“No sitting puppet regime has been able to defeat the NPA despite repeated declarations,” Obrero pointed out.

Año’s refusal to talk is a reflection of his personal background as a militarist and conforms to the dictates of US imperialism and Marcos Jr.,” said Cecil Estrella, NPA-Northern Negros (Roselyn Pelle Command) spokesperson.

“The people of Negros reject this militaristic approach, especially in the communities that suffer from the 79th IB’s heavy militarization,” Estrella pointed out.

“The desire…for the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines)-NPA-NDFP and all the struggling people to surrender and lay down arms is insane,” Madaay Gasic, spokesperson of the NPA-Mindoro (Lucio De Guzman command), said.

“Being anti-peace negotiations is being anti-people,” Rosa Guidon, spokeswoman of the NDF-Ilocos, also said. “It closes the opportunity to continue and finalize the substantive agenda that would have solved the root cause of the chronic poverty of the masses of farmers, workers and other poor Filipinos.”

“The US-Marcos regime itself blocks the way to true peace for the Filipino people,” Samuel Guerrero, spokesperson of the NPA-Sorsogon (Celso Minguez Command), said.

“The entire revolutionary movement in the province of Sorsogon stands firm that only by solving the root causes of conflict and civil war in the country that are hunger, lack of services, corruption, dispossession of land and others, can genuine, just and lasting peace be truly achieved in the Philippines,” Guerrero added.

The NDFP said Año has a long record of derailing peace talks, including spreading “false information” such as the impending talks are “new” and do not stand on previous agreements.

“He also immediately disputed the measures that would facilitate the reopening of the negotiations such as the release of NDFP consultants and other political detainees and the removal of the ‘terrorist’ designation on Louie Jalandoni,” the group said.

Jalandoni, former Negotiating Panel chairperson, is currently NDFP’s senior adviser to the talks.

“Instead, he stressed that military operations of the AFP and NTF-Elcac, the perpetrators of numerous war crimes and human rights violations against civilians, will continue,” it added.

Causes of the civil war

In a separate statement, CPP chief information officer Marco Valbuena said that, without a doubt, there is urgent need to resume peace negotiations between the NDFP and the GRP.

“This is because the social and economic problems and political repression which underlie the civil war continue to worsen under the Marcos puppet and fascist regime. They demand urgent attention and resolution,” Valbuena said.

He pointed out that majority of the Filipino people are plagued with incessant increases in the prices of basic commodities and services, low wages, lack of income, widespread joblessness and low quality of employment, land grabbing, dispossession of livelihood and other social ills.

He added that human rights violations, such as extrajudicial killings, unlawful arrests and prolonged detentions, abductions and disappearances, torture, anti-communist witch-hunting, militarization and hamletting of rural communities, anti-union activities and other forms of repression remain unabated.

“The lack of social justice and absence of genuine democracy continue to force people to take up arms to defend their rights and fight for their aspirations of a brighter future,” Valbuena said.

He added that the NPA continues to wage revolutionary armed struggle across the country “with the deep and wide support of the people.”

Valbuena said that while waging armed resistance, the CPP and revolutionary forces welcome the possibility of resuming peace negotiations in order to serve as an additional platform for the people to assert their aspirations for social justice and genuine democracy,

“At this point, the prospect of the NDFP-GRP peace negotiations moving forward depends greatly on how strong the Filipino people can raise their voices and collectively push the Marcos government to heed the long-standing clamor for genuine land reform and national industrialization and the demand for an end to the abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law,” he explained.

“Peace negotiations are not just about ending the armed conflict. They are, more importantly, about resolving the problems that give rise to the civil war,” he said.

Valbuena also pointed out that “dissonant voices” within the Marcos cabinet are disconcerting, with some officials claiming that “nothing will come out” of the NDFP-GRP peace talks while other say they are “very optimistic.”

“In any case, the NDFP maintains a policy of keeping its doors open to any offer from the GRP to talk peace in accordance with mutually acceptable principles of national sovereignty, democracy and social justice,” he said.

“We are fully confident that the (NDFP) will continue to represent these aspirations and bring these to the negotiating table,” he added.

‘Unwavering determination’

De Lima echoed the CPP’s declaration, saying ongoing talks between NDFP and GRP delegations are meant to come up with an “agreed framework for the negotiations” towards forging an agreement that will address the root causes of the armed conflict.

“Our dedication to achieving a just and lasting peace remains steadfast, as we believe the negotiations present an effective means to address the underlying causes of the civil war,” de Lima said.

She added that the NDFP panel is engaging in meaningful discussions that can lead to comprehensive solutions benefitting the Filipino people, including addressing key issues of agrarian reform and national industrialization among other substantive socio-economic concerns.

“The path to peace is indeed long and arduous, but it is a path that we must tread with unwavering determination, mutual respect and a genuine commitment from both parties if it is to succeed,” she said.

“We look forward to continuing exploratory talks with the GRP and hopeful to resume formal negotiations to achieve just and lasting peace in the Philippines,” de Lima said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)