National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultants Alan Jazmines, Tirso “Ka Bart” Alcantara, Renante Gamara and Ernesto Lorenzo were released on bail this afternoon at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
Simultaneously, Alfredo Mapano, another NDFP consultant, was released on bail this afternoon from the Misamis Oriental provincial jail. Read more
THE NEW PEOPLE’S ARMY (NPA) said that President Rodrigo Duterte was deceived by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) when it claimed the ambush that killed one paramilitary trooper and injured four others in Bagnakan, Sitio Muling, Barangay Gupitan, Kapalong, Davao del Norte last July 27 was unprovoked.
In response to Duterte’s demand to explain the ambush, NPA ComVal-North Davao-South Agusan Subregional Command’s spokesperson Aris Francisco said in a statement that the Civilian Auxilliary Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) under the 72nd Infantry Battallion of the Philippine Army and Alamara paramilitary troops were engaged in an active combat operation when they were ambushed by the NPA. Read more
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
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
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 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
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)
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
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)