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GRP rejects Joma-Duterte meet in Hanoi

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) negotiating panel rejected a National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) suggestion that its chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison and President Rodrigo Duterte meet in Hanoi, Vietnam.

This was revealed by Sison in a statement Saturday, May 26, saying he and his former student could have agreed to attend the signing of substantial agreements, including an interim peace declaration, by the two parties.

“The NDFP has offered Hanoi as the alternative venue to facilitate the attendance of Duterte. But the GRP side did not give a positive answer and the RNG [Royal Norwegian Government, third party facilitator to the peace negotiations] special envoy cannot make any arrangement with Hanoi,” Sison said.

“Hanoi as a venue near the Philippines was proposed by NDFP in consideration of the heavy work schedule of Duterte,” he added.

Sison added that the original plan mutually agreed upon by the GRP and NDFP representatives in back channel consultations in recent weeks was to have Duterte attend the Oslo ceremony for the signing of the Interim Peace Agreement.

But the GRP side backed out and offered Duterte’s executive secretary Salvador Medialdea as his proxy instead, Sison added.

Duterte has repeatedly challenged Sison to come home to the Philippines and continue the peace negotiations in the country.

In a speech in Davao City Thursday, Duterte again said he is guaranteeing Sison’s safety and will even escort him back to the airport should the talks fail.

Sison, however, said his acceptance of Duterte’s challenge will violate earlier GRP and NDFP agreements such as The Hague Joint Declaration and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees to hold the talks in a foreign and neutral venue.

“Second, I would be placing myself and the entire peace negotiations in the pocket of Duterte and at his mercy. Third, any peace spoiler or saboteur would be able to destroy the entire peace negotiations by simply abducting or harming any NDFP panelist or consultant,” Sison added.

NDFP negotiators and staff were arrested and killed when their 1986-1987 peace talks with the Corazon Aquino government collapsed, prompting them to insist on a foreign and neutral venue when formal peace negotiations resumed with GRP President Fidel Ramos in 1992.

Sison however is not ruling out returning to the country.

“I have consistently declared that I will return home when substantial progress is already achieved in the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations and my comrades and lawyers are satisfied with the legal and security guarantees,” Sison said.

“By substantial progress, I mean the entire CASER [Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms] has been mutually approved by the GRP and NDFP principals,” he said.

For his soonest possible interface with Duterte, Sison said the NDFP has considered the possibility of the meeting “at the signing of the Interim Peace Agreement, packaging the ceasefire agreement, amnesty proclamation and the ARRD and NIED sections of CASER either in Oslo or Hanoi.”

GRP chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III’s comment on Sison’s statement is still being sought by Kodao. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

4th round of GRP-NDFP talks to be held in The Netherlands

THE Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) have agreed on a new venue and the final dates of their fourth round of formal negotiations.

In a press statement, Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Erik Førner said the talks will be held at the town of Noordwijk in the Netherlands on April 2 to 6. Read more

Dureza: Norway is the international champion for peace

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza lauded the Royal Norwegian Government as the international champion for peace.

In his remarks at the opening ceremony of the third round of formal peace talks between the GRP and the NDFP, Dureza again thanked the RNG for facilitating the peace process.

Dureza later gave way to Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay who admitted delight in finally meeting NDFP Chief Political Consultant Jose Maria Sison.

Yasay was invited to address the opening ceremony in acknowledgement of his department’s efforts in facilitating the travel documents of the peace talks participants. Read more

NDFP and Duterte peace teams begin informal meet

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

Radyo Natin-Guimba serves as model for new community radio stations in the Philippines

Radyo Nation-Guimba (RNG) expressed support for Kodao Productions’ ongoing women-led disaster risk reduction community radio station project in Eastern Visayas with assurances of technical support and competencies.

As one of the most successful and dynamic community radio stations in the country, RNG shared its expertise in establishing an alternative media outfit in the countryside during Kodao’s visit to Guimba last January 14. They were joined by Mr. Ramon Palima Ramirez, a top Filipino electrical engineer and a veteran alternative media practitioner.

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Photo: (L-R) Romie Malonzo, Juan Manuel Herrera, Gie Herrera, Jola Diones-Mamangun, Raymund Villanueva, Engr. Ramon Ramirez and Reggie Mamangun

Kodao visited RNG to study its broadcast and equipment set-up as part of the former’s preparations for the DRR community radio station project in Tacloban City.

The project is supported by the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT).

RNG station manager Gie Herrera said that community support is vital in their success over difficulties on matters such as constructing a broadcast tower and popularizing their programs.

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Gie Herrera, Founding member and Station Manager of Radyo Natin Guimba

“When we started in 2004, we explained our objectives to the communities and offered broadcast time to peasants, women, youth, senior citizens, and local entrepreneurs. They responded by patronizing our programs when they realized that this radio stations is for them,” Herrera said.

“We even received technical assistance from the community in putting up our broadcast tower that has withstood strong typhoons this past decade,” she added.

RNG also conducted medical and relief missions during calamities as well feeding programs for schoolchildren as an extension program that further endeared them to the communities.

Aside from their popular local news and public service programs, RNG gained further listenership base when it started broadcasting programs on local culture anchored by both the youth and elderly.

“We try to fill the gap between mass media and the people. We try our best to show the people that mass media should genuinely be in the service of the community,” Herrera said.

RNG is also one of the first community radio stations that broadcast through a local cable TV network.

“May our successes serve as model for the establishment of more community radio stations in the country,” Herrera said.

In the same visit, RNG also expressed interest in joining IAWRT Philippines. RNG’s staff is 80 percent women, including its top management. #