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Duterte, NDFP peace teams agree to resume formal talks

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The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s peace team agreed to resume formal negotiations next month with a historic joint statement last night in Oslo, Norway (1 am, Manila time).

In a successful conclusion to their two-day exploratory talks, both parties also agreed to discuss in their formal negotiations the affirmation of previously-signed agreements, accelerated process for the negotiations, reconstitution of the NDFP list of Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG)-protected personnel, amnesty proclamation of all political prisoners, and mode of interim ceasefire.  Read more

GPH, NDFP report ‘very jovial’ talks

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QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES–The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the incoming Rodrigo Duterte government’s peace panels began the second day of their initial talks in very high spirits, reports from Oslo indicate.

“There is evident shared optimism on both sides due to the declaration of President-elect Rody Duterte to seek an early sustainable peace for the nation,” incoming presidential adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza said on his Facebook wall.

Edre Olalia, NDFP legal adviser, also described yesterday’s opening round as “very jovial.”

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NDFP and Duterte peace teams begin informal meet

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QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES—The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s negotiating teams expressed optimism at the start of their three-day preliminary talks in Oslo, Norway yesterday, an observer to the meeting said.

Incoming Anakpawis representative Ariel Casilao said both parties are optimistic in resuming the formal talks slated next month after Duterte is sworn into office.    Read more

Progressives to Duterte: Fulfill promise to free political prisoners

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PROGRESSIVE GROUPS called on Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte to fulfill his promise to free political prisoners once he assumes the presidency.

In a rally outside Camp Crame on June 10, militant laborers and human rights workers said political prisoners such as Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Austria must be freed to help in the peace process between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Government of the Philippines (GPH). Read more

What they said before: GPH and NDFP opening statements at last formal talks in 2011

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AS PART of Kodao Productions’ series on the imminent resumption of formal peace talks between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the incoming Government of the Philippines (GPH) under President-elect Rodrigo R. Duterte, these opening statements by the incumbent GPH and the NDFP at their first and only formal talks in February 18, 2011 are hereby republished.

Duterte-appointed representatives Jesus Dureza, Silvestre Bello III and Hernani Braganza are, at the moment, on their way to Oslo, Norway to meet with the old NDFP panel for preliminary talks before their formal meet sometime in July.

The following speeches were delivered by incumbent Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles for the GPH and Luis Jalandoni for the NDFP, respectively.

While the February 2011 talks resulted in a Joint Statement, there has been no peace achievements made since, however.

In his speech, Jalandoni called for the release of NDFP consultants and staff and the honoring of previous signed agreements.

After the Oslo meet, the GPH under Benigno Aquino has subsequently arrested more NDFP consultants and wanted to set aside signed agreements such as The Hague Joint Declaration (THJD) and the Joint Agreement on Immunity and Safety Guarantees (JASIG).

Deles was reported to have dismissed THJD as a “document of perpetual division.”

The audio recordings were originally published by Bulatlat.com. Kodao Productions recorded the speeches in Oslo, Norway.

PAPP Teresita Q. Deles

NDFP chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni

Disgusting, Sison says of US terror relisting

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AT THE ‘Blue Meets Red’ forum at the Ateneo de Davao University last June 8, National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) spokesperson Fidel Agcaoili said their chief political consultant Prof. Jose Maria Sison’s planned homecoming to the Philippines is still a ‘ticklish’ issue owing to the United States recent relisting of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People’s Army (NPA) and Sison as ‘terrorist’.

Kodao interviewed Prof. Sison on his thoughts about this development. Read more

NDFP and incoming Duterte administration poised for a ceasefire agreement

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The negotiating panels of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the incoming Government of the Philippines (GPH) confirmed that an interim mutual ceasefire agreement is on the agenda when both parties hold preliminary talks in Oslo starting June 14.

NDFP negotiating panel chairperson Luis Jalandoni said that their group is now finalizing its draft interim ceasefire agreement with the incoming Rodrigo Duterte government. Read more

Joma to use Philippine passport in planned visit to homeland

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JOSE MARIA SISON will use a Philippine passport if his planned return to the Philippines happens under the incoming Rodrigo Duterte government.

Sison said he intends to visit the Philippines as an act of goodwill in July or August if Duterte has already released the more than 500 political prisoners and that the formal talks between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) are going to be resumed.

“I have never lost my Filipino citizenship.  My Philippine passport was merely cancelled in 1988,” Sison said in an online interview.

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Progressives upbeat on Duterte-NDFP peace talks

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This is a contributed video of some of the highlights of the Philippine celebration of the 15th anniversary of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS) and the launching of Prof. Jose Ma. Sison’s latest book “Building People’s Power” held on May 28, 2016.

The event was upbeat on the prospects of peace talks with the government under incoming president Rodrigo Duterte.  Read more