JOINT STATEMENT of Secretaries Rafael V. Mariano (DAR), Judy M. Taguiwalo (DSWD) and (Liza L. Maza NAPC) on the peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)
Kilab Multimedia
February 7, 2017

Statement of GRP Panel Chair Silvestre H. Bello III on CPP/NPA/NDF’s Cancellation of Unilateral Ceasefire
Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
February 1st, 2017

Duterte declares unilateral ceasefire with communist rebels
News posted on OPAPP website
dated Tuesday, Jul 26th, 2016

Kodao Productions
March 9, 2017

NATIONAL Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Negotiating Panel member Benito Tiamzon and consultants Wilma Austria Tiamzon and Vicente Ladlad will soon leave for Europe to participate in the ongoing backchannel talks with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).

In a speech at the National Defense College earlier today, Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also announced Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza has left for Europe last night to lead the GRP delegation in the talks for the possible resumption of formal peace negotiations between the parties.

“Yesterday, Secretary Dureza left for Europe again. And, last night, we allowed the departure of Benito and Wilma Tiamzon and Mr. Ladlad to do some back-channelling,” Lorenzana said.

Lorenzana said the government is listening to the public clamor for the resumption of the peace negotiations.

President Rodrigo Duterte announced last Tuesday informal talks are being held to resume the formal negotiations he suspended last month.

“Hang on…Do not spoil. I must admit there’s a back-channelling,” Duterte told reporters in a chance interview.

NDFP Negotiating Panel chairperson Fidel Agcaoili for his part said the six government troopers captured by the New People’s Army will soon be freed as soon as the GRP orders the suspension of military and police operations in areas where the releases are to be held.

Agcaoili said the release of captured GRP soldiers is proof of NDFP’s good faith in the ongoing back-channel negotiations. (Report and photo by Raymund B. Villanueva)

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Feb 23 2017 04:28 PM | Updated as of Feb 23 2017 04:49 PM

 (See video at http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/23/17/ndfp-consultant-peace-talks-still-on-duterte-admin-shows-positive-signs )

MANILA- As far as the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) is concerned, the peace talks are still on.
NDFP consultant Rey Casambre said despite the pronouncements of President Rodrigo Duterte, talks are still on since there are certain protocols that have to be met before the talks can be terminated.

“As far as the NDFP is concerned, the talks have not been cancelled or terminated. There are certain protocols, certain requirements before the talks or peace negotiations can be said to be terminated,” Casambre said in an interview on “Mornings@ANC.”

Casambre added that the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) is also still in effect since they have not received any written notice of termination.
Earlier this month, Duterte announced the termination of the peace talks following a series of armed clashes between soldiers and rebel forces.

Duterte also called on communist leaders that were temporarily freed to participate in the talks to go home and return to prison.

Casambre said the “aggressive language” of President Duterte is nothing new and added that they have seen “very positive signals” from the government in recent days.

“There are still exchanges of ideas and comments and in fact, recently, we’ve seen very positive signals from Duterte and Dureza,” he said.

Scheduled talks between the communist movement and the government panel were supposed to start on Wednesday.

Despite the tension between the two panels, Casambre said he remains hopeful that peace talks would soon resume as well as talks for a bilateral ceasefire.

“It’s just a matter of time I think. The channels are open for them to be able to set these meeting and finally hammer out not only the bilateral ceasefire but how to proceed with the fourth round of talks,” Casambre said.

Kodao Productions /news
February 21, 2017

THE National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) assured each other today of their mutual desire for peace in the country, even as scheduled formal negotiations have been cancelled.

In a statement, GRP peace adviser Jesus Dureza announced that President Rodrigo Duterte met with NDFP-nominated members of his cabinet in Malacañan Palace last night.

“The President reiterated his desire and passion (for) bringing about just, lasting, and inclusive peace in the land,” Dureza said.

Dureza said he met with the President, labor and employment secretary and GRP chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III as well as agrarian reform secretary Rafael Mariano, social work and development secretary Judy Taguiwalo and anti-poverty commission lead convenor Liza Masa “until late last night.”

He said the meeting discussed directions and possible next steps in their peace engagements with the Left as well as the Bangsamoro, Cordillerans and others.

“He (Duterte) gave specific instructions on how to deal with the present situation, including possible next steps following the cancellation of peace talks and the unilateral ceasefire declarations,” Dureza said.

NDFP chief peace negotiator Fidel Agcaoili for his part said they are one with Duterte in wanting to lay the foundation for a just and lasting peace in the country.

In an interview, Agcaoili said peace can be achieved through the forging of agreements on basic social, economic and political reforms that would truly benefit the Filipino people.

“Uninformed”

Dureza’s statement, however, was silent about presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella’s remarks at a Palace briefing yesterday enumerating “four conditions” that would convince the GRP to resume formal negotiations with the NDFP.

Abella said the Communist Party of the Philippines and its New People’s Army must stop collecting “revolutionary tax,” ambushing Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel, burning of property, and provocative and hostile actions.

Agcaoili, for his part, dismissed Abella’s remarks, saying the secretary’s list are not preconditions but are actually subject matters the GRP would like to discuss in the crafting of the bilateral ceasefire agreement.

“The NDFP, of course, has its own subject matters for discussion in crafting the bilateral ceasefire agreement,” Agcaoili said.

He mentioned the encroachment of the military and the police on communities, the illegal arrest and detention of legal activists and development workers, the extrajudicial killings of Lumad and peasant leaders, the continuing arrest and detention of Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees- protected persons, the release and amnesty of all political prisoners in accordance with the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, among others.

“Sec. Abella is (also) uninformed or misinformed on the status of the negotiations on the draft agreement on social and economic reforms and the tentative draft agreement on political and constitutional reforms,” Agcaoili said.

“Otherwise he would not say what he stated,” he added.

The GRP and the NDFP are supposed to meet in The Netherlands starting tomorrow to discuss the government’s proposal for a bilateral ceasefire agreement as well as hold the fourth round of formal talks in Oslo, Norway in April. (Raymund B. Villanueva/Featured photo by OPAPP)

130 congressmen want the Philippine government and communists to return to the negotiating table

RAPPLER.COM :  Mara Cepeda
February 21, 2017

MANILA, Philippines – The House committee on peace, reconciliation, and unity approved a resolution calling on President Rodrigo Duterte to continue peace talks with communists.

Voting 8-0-0, the panel gave its nod to House Resolution Number 769, which has been signed by 130 congressmen.

The lawmakers believe the President should continue the peace negotiations because the “Duterte administration [has] reached remarkable and unparalleled headway” compared to past administrations.

“Terminating the same would only put to waste the unprecedented, positive, and substantial gains the peace talks have reached,” said the lawmakers.

“It is highly imperative that this Congress hear the Filipino people’s desire to support the resumption of the peace negotiations. It is just and lasting peace itself that is the very compelling reason to continue the peace negotiations,” they added.

Duterte scrapped the peace talks after the New People’s Army withdrew from a 5-month-old ceasefire.

The government also issued a notice to cancel an agreement giving some rebels immunity from arrest – the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees. (READ: Rebels reject ‘improper’ notice to cancel talks, JASIG)

The President met with leftist Cabinet members on Monday night, February 20, to discuss the breakdown of talks with communist rebels.

Chief presidential peace adviser Secretary Jesus Dureza said Duterte “vowed to work for a strategic shift during his incumbency.” – with reports from Carmela Fonbuena / Rappler.com

Kodao Productions
February 10, 2017

NATIONAL Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Chief Political Consultant Jose Maria Sison asked Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) President Rodrigo Duterte to allow efforts to clear the air in the face of escalating tension between the two parties following the Duterte government’s declaration of an all-out war against the Left.

Sison proposed to his former student “to consult thoroughly with his negotiating panel and the peace advocates in his own cabinet and others outside of his government and encourage and allow back-channelling efforts to clarify misunderstandings and solve immediately the current problems.”

“President Duterte’s announcements to consider the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines), NPA (New People’s Army) and NDFP as terrorist organizations and to terminate the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) have the effect of terminating the entire GRP-NDFP peace negotiations,” Sison said.

“I believe that President Duterte’s reaction should not have gone this far,” he added.

Sison said he can understand the role of President Duterte in reacting as GRP president and Commander-in-Chief as simply performing his duty to speak and act in the interest of his government and express concern for his troops.

“But there should have been a measure of restraint in his reaction in order to preserve the GRP-NDF peace process,” Sison advised.

Sison added that the third party facilitator, the Royal Norwegian Government (RNG), deserves a briefing from each negotiating party to possibly enable the continuance of the peace process.

Earlier, RNG Special Envoy to the Philippine Peace Process Ambassador Elisabeth Slattum urged both the GRP and the NDFP to “protect the peace talks, as it is the only way to move forward towards a just and lasting peace.”

In a statement, Slattum said that “what defines the success of a peace process is the ability and commitment of the parties to stay at the negotiation table and not give up, despite setbacks.”

“What is important now is to protect the peace talks, as it is the only way to move forward towards a just and lasting peace, for the benefit of all Filipino people,” Slattum said.

Successful negotiations so far

Sison cited the gains made so far in the formal peace talks in Norway and Italy as reasons for the continuation of the negotiations.

“The recent third round of formal talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) from January 19 to 25, 2017 has been successful and has scheduled the fourth round on April 2-6 in Oslo,” Sison said.

Sison said there was a fair exchange of views and agreements on efforts to comply with the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) concerning the release of all political prisoners, justice for and indemnification of victims of human right violations under the Marcos regime, allegations of human rights violations under Oplans Bayanihan, Tokhang and Kapayapaan, as well as the approval of the supplementary guidelines of the Joint Monitoring Committee.

There was also an initial discussion of the bilateral ceasefire agreement to replace the unilateral ceasefire declarations, Sison said.

The NDFP’s chief political consultant added that the biggest achievements in moving forward the peace process were the exchange of full drafts of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) by the reciprocal working committees of the GRP and the NDFP, and the complete drafts of the CAPCR by the reciprocal working groups.

“I estimate that it is possible to unify these drafts within 2017. The NDFP has formally offered to GRP to co-found the Federal Republic of the Philippines on the basis of the CAPCR,” Sison said.

Sison said he believes it is possible to implement the CASER and CAPCR through GRP executive actions, legislation and constitutional amendments before the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on End of Hostilities and Disposition of Forces (CAEHDF) in 2020-2021.

“Before then, a bilateral ceasefire agreement is possible, especially after the signing of the CASER and the CAPCR by the negotiating panels in 2017,” he said.

The GRP and NDFP ceasefire committees are scheduled to meet in The Netherlands on February 22 to discuss the former’s proposal for a bilateral ceasefire agreement, the possible discussion of which in Italy last month effectively scuttled by an attack by the AFP against an NPA encampment in Makilala, North Cotabato last January 21.

Talking while fighting

Sison said the clear and significant success of the third round of the formal talks has been overshadowed by the reaction of Duterte to the announcement of the termination of the unilateral ceasefire by the CPP and NPA, effective on February 10, and to the so-called self-defense actions already begun by the NPA in accordance with the terms of its unilateral ceasefire declaration.

“Even if the armed conflict between the armed forces of the two parties has resumed, peace negotiations can and must continue precisely to continue with the forging of the CASER, CAPCR and the bilateral ceasefire agreement and effecting the amnesty and release of all political prisoners within 2017,” Sison said.

“More than 10 major agreements were made during the (Fidel) Ramos regime while fighting went on,” he added.

Duterte’s peace adviser and negotiators—notably Jesus Dureza, Silvestre Bello III, Hernani Braganza, Rene Sarmiento and Maria Carla Munsayac—had been part of various Ramos government negotiating teams with the NDFP.

Sison said the CPP, NPA and NDFP remain committed to the peace process in accordance to the The Hague Joint Declaration and further agreements.

“They wish to pursue with the GRP the bright prospects that started with the first round of formal talks in August 2016 and overcome the peace spoilers that run counter to the progress that has been achieved in the third round of formal talks, Sison said.

We must respond to and strive to fulfil the Filipino people’s demand for a just and lasting peace,” he said. (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Members of the Makabayan bloc file new resolution for the resumption of “PeaceTalk” at the House Bills and Index Office in Congress on Thursday. Photo by: DARREN LANGIT

RAPPLER.COM : by Mara Cepeda
February 09, 2017

MANILA, Philippines – A total of 102 lawmakers led by the House Makabayan bloc signed a resolution urging President Rodrigo Duterte to continue the peace negotiations with communist rebels.

The Makabayan bloc legislators filed House Resolution (HR) Number 769 on Thursday, February 9. Four days before, the President scrapped the peace talks after the New People’s Army (NPA) withdrew from a 5-month-old ceasefire.

The government also issued a notice to cancel an agreement giving some rebels immunity from arrest – the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG). (READ: Rebels reject ‘improper’ notice to cancel talks, JASIG)

According to the congressmen, the President should continue the peace talks because the “Duterte administration [has] reached remarkable and unparalleled headway” compared to past administrations.

“Terminating the same would only put to waste the unprecedented, positive and substantial gains the peace talks have reached,” said the lawmakers.

“It is highly imperative that this Congress hear the Filipino people’s desire to support the resumption of the peace negotiations. It is just and lasting peace itself that is the very compelling reason to continue the peace negotiations,” they added.

Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate said there is a 30-day window before the cancellation of the JASIG will take place.

“Kami ay may nakikita pang puwang na may mababalik sa track ang peace process. At kailangang samantalahin natin ang opportunity na ito,” said Zarate in a press conference.

(We still see a window for the peace process to get back on track. We need to take advantage of this opportunity.)

The full list of lawmakers who signed HR 769 as of early afternoon of February 9 are as follows:

1. Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez, South Cotabato 2nd District
2. Deputy Speaker Eric Singson, Ilocos Sur 2nd District
3. Arlene Brosas, Gabriela Women’s Party (Makabayan)
4. France Castro, ACT Teachers (Makabayan)
5. Ariel Casilao, Anakpawis (Makabayan)
6. Emmi de Jesus, Gabriela Women’s Party (Makabayan)
7. Sarah Elago, Kabataan (Makabayan)
8. Antonio Tinio, ACT Teachers (Makabayan)
9. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Bayan Muna (Makabayan)
10. Harlin Neil Abayon III, Aangat Tayo
11. Rodrigo Abellanosa, Cebu City 2nd District
12. Pedro Acharon, South Cotabato 1st District
13. Maria Lourdes Aggabao, Isabela 4th District
14. Rodolfo Albano III, Isabela 1st Distrct
15. Jorge Almonte, Misamis Occidental 1st District
16. Michaelina Antonio, Agbiag
17. Arlene Arcillas-Nazareno, Laguna 1st District
18. Rosemarie Arenas, Pangasinan 3rd District
19. Erico Aumentado, Bohol 2nd Distrct
20. Leopoldo Bataoil, Pangasinan 2nd District
21. Rodel Batocabe, AKO Bicol
22. Jose Christopher Belmonte, Quezon City 6th District
23. Joseph Sto Niño Bernos, Abra
24. John Bertiz, ACTS-OFW
25. Lianda Bolilia, Batangas 4th Distrct
26. Gabriel Bordado Jr, Camarines Sur 3rd District
27. Anthony Bravo, COO-NATCCO
28. Maria Vida Espinosa-Bravo, Masbate 1st Distrct
29. Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, Apayao
30. Luis Campos, Makati City 2nd District
31. Sabiniana Canama, COOP-NATCCO
32. Aurora Enerio-Cerilles, Zamboanga del Sur 2nd District
33. Maria Theresa Collantes, Batangas 3rd District
34. Jonas Cortes, Cebu 3rd District
35. Vincent Crisologo, Quezon City 1st District
36. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma, Nueva Vizcaya
37. Leo Rafael Cueva, Negros Occidental 2nd District
38. Eugene de Vera, Arts Business and Science Professionals
39. Raul del Mar, Cebu City 1st District
40. Monsour del Rosario, Makati City 1st District
41. Cherry Deloso-Montalla, Zambales 2nd District
42. Ramon Durano VI, Cebu 5th District
43. Napolen Dy, Isabela 3rd District
44. Sandra Eriguel, La Union 2nd District
45. Evelina Escudero, Sorsogon 1st District
46. Juliet Ferrer, Negros Occidental 4th District
47. Lawrence Fortun, Agusan del Norte 1st District
48. Alfredo Garbin Jr, AKO Bicol
49. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga, Compostela Valley 2nd District
50. Fernando Gonzalez, Albay 3rd District
51. Alexandria Gonzales, Mandaluyong
52. Mark Go, Baguio City
53. Seth Frederick Jalosjos, Zamboanga del Norte 1st Distrt
54. Elisa Kho, Masbate 2nd District
55. Virgilio Lacson, MANILA Teachers
56. Edcel Lagman, Albay 1st Distrct
57. Delphine Lee, AGRI
58. Benjur Lopez Jr, YACAP
59. Dale Malapitan, Caloocan City 1st Distrct
60. Allen Jesse Mangaoang, Kalinga
61. Rodante Marcoleta, 1-SAGIP
62. Evelyn Plaza-Mellana, Agusan del Sur
63. Raymond Mendoza, TUCP
64. Alejandro Mirasol, Negros Occidental 5th District
65. Ramon Nolasco, Cagayan 1st Distrct
66. Henry Oaminal, Misamis Occidental 2nd District
67. Eric Olivarez, Parañaque 1st Distrct
68. Edwin Ong, Northern Samar 2nd Distrct
69. Pablo Ortega, La Union
70. Rogelio Pacquiao, Sarangani
71. Joseph Stephen Paduano, Abang Lingkod
72. Wilter Palma, Zamboanga Sibugay 1st Distrct
73. Jose Panganiban Jr. ANAC-IP
74. Marisol Panotes, Camarines Norte 2nd District
75. Mauyag Papandayan Jr, Lanao del Sur
76. Johnny Pimentel, Surigao del Sur 2nd District
77. Enrico Pineda, 1PACMAN
78. Aileen Radaza, Lapu-Lapu City
79. Isidro Rodriguez Jr, Rizal 2nd District
80. Geraldine Roman, Bataan 1st Distrct
81. Harry Roque, Kabayan
82. Rogelio Roque, Bukidnon 4th District
83. Jesus Sacdalan, Cotabato 1st District
84. Ron Salo, Kabayan
85. Orestes Salon, AGRI
86. Joey Salceda, Albay 2nd District
87. Federico Sandoval II, Malabon
88. Vilma Santos-Recto, Batangas 6th District
89. Deogracias Victor Savellano, Ilocos Sur 1st District
90. Bai Sandra Sema, Maguindanao 1st District
91. Frederick Siao, Iligan
92. Anna Marie Villaraza-Suarez, ALONA
93. Jose Tejada, Cotabato 3rd District
94. Randolph Ting, Cagayan 3rd District
95. Arnel Ty, LPGMA
96. Carlos Roman Uybarreta, 1-CARE
97. Baby Aline Vargas-Alfonso, Cagayan 2nd District
98. Rosanna Vergara, Nueva Ecija 3rd District
99. Noel Villanueva, Tarlac 3rd District
100. Micaela Violago, Nueva Ecija 2nd District
101. Melecio Yap, Negros Occidental 1st District
102. Manuel Zubiri, Bukidnon 3rd District

– Rappler.com

ZEA IO MING C. CAPISTRANO
Feb. 06, 2017

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Various non-government organizations across the country are urging President Rodrigo Duterte not to back out from the peace talks with the communists.

They also warned the all-out war approach will affect communities and civilians.

Human rights group Karapatan said Duterte should rethink his statement on the termination of the peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines after the president announced the termination of the peace talks with the NDFP.

Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general said Duterte should be prepared to encounter problems in solving the armed conflict.

“Both Parties have expressed that the road to a just and lasting peace is not an easy one, but has several bumps and roadblocks,” she said.

Palabay added that it is the Army who is sabotaging the peace talks.

“Pres. Duterte should see that one big roadblock is the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) being warmongers and peace saboteurs, within and outside the peace process,” she said citing cases of political killings, enforced disappearances, illegal arrests and detention, threats and harassment in the communities.

“The AFP’s counter-insurgency program Oplan Bayanihan was still in play, with the military’s so-called “peace and development” teams coercing and threatening local government officials and residents as they continued to encamp in peasants’ homes, schools, and barangay halls. This is the reason why the residents, the victims and their families have repeatedly called on the GRP to pull out the AFP troops from their communities and to stop Oplan Bayanihan,” she said.

Palabay said “militarist” approach to ending insurgency will not solve the rebellion in the country.

Karapatan has recorded that at least four peasant activists were killed by state security forces in January this year.

On February 3, Lumad leader Renato Anglao, 42, of the Tribal Indigenous Oppressed Group Association was killed by three men on board a motorcycle.

Karapatan said TINDOGA, an indigenous people’s organization of the Manobo-Pulangion tribe in Barangay Botong, Quezon, Bukidnon, has consistently opposed the entry of agri-business plantations in the ancestral land of the lumad. The group was also accused of supporting the NPAs.

“Ultimately, it is the people who will suffer from the absence of GRP-NDFP official peace talks,” Palabay said.

Meanwhile, the Northern Luzon Peace Network said they are worried that violence will “revisit many communities, particularly those occupied by indigenous peoples.”

“The events in the past few days have been extremely worrying for us, tribal groups, church organizations and nongovernment organizations in the Cordillera and in Cagayan province,” it said in a statement.

“We now appeal to them to not lose sight of the long-awaited gains that a peace agreement will bring, particularly for the country’s poorest sectors,” it added.

Various tribes in Compostela Valley Province also said the six-month unilateral ceasefire declared by both sides brought peace to their communities.

“We, the Manguangan, Dibabawon and Mandaya tribes in Laak, Monkayo and Compostela in Compostela Valley, therefore, call on the government and the CPP-NPA to keep talking. We urge them to build on the gains from the three previous rounds of formal negotiations,” it said.(davaotoday.com)