February 1st, 2017

The last six months have given us a glimpse of the sort of peace that could emanate from the cessation of hostilities brought about by the re-opening of formal negotiations and the declaration of unilateral ceasefires by the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and National Democratic Front (NDF).

Violent clashes between the parties have gone down; displaced peoples and communities, particularly indigenous peoples, have begun returning to their homes; and economic investments and vital services have begun to flow into conflict-affected areas. Beyond these, our law enforcers have also been able to focus their attention to other serious criminal and terrorist threats.

It is, therefore, regrettable that the New People’s Army (NPA) has decided to withdraw their unilateral ceasefire effective 10 February 2017.

The Government Panel negotiating peace with the National Democratic Front firmly believes that the unilateral ceasefire declared by both parties in August last year was instrumental in moving the peace process forward. The ceasefire has also provided our people the opportunity to participate in the bigger peace table, enabling them to voice out their positions on the ongoing negotiations.

Hence, despite the NPA’s withdrawal of their ceasefire declaration, the Government Peace Panel has recommended to the President that we stand by our unilateral ceasefire.

We look forward to meeting with our NDF counterparts for the fourth round of talks in April and to discuss the possibility of a bilateral ceasefire agreement on February 22, as agreed upon during the third round of talks held in Rome.

It is our belief that such ceasefire agreement would set the ground rules on cessation of hostilities that could minimize, if not eliminate, the armed violence that affects communities.

In the meantime, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) shall continue to provide protection and relief from the potential renewal of violence resulting from the NPA’s recent declaration.

We shall also endeavour to continue the peace-building and development efforts in conflict areas with local government units at the forefront, supported by national agencies in the delivery of basic services to our people.

Finally, we encourage all Filipinos to add their voices to the growing clamour of those directly affected by violent conflict, for continuing the ceasefire, and the chance to actively participate in the discussion for socio-economic and political reforms vital to the success of a final political settlement. ###

News posted on OPAPP website
dated Tuesday, Jul 26th, 2016

PASIG CITY—President Rodrigo R. Duterte announced on Monday, July 25, a unilateral ceasefire with the communist rebels to be effective immediately.

“To immediately stop violence on the ground, restore peace in the communities, and provide enabling environment conducive to the resumption of the peace talks, I am now announcing a unilateral ceasefire with the CPP/NPA/NDF [Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front] effective immediately,” said President Duterte during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) held in Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

The President urged the communist rebels “to end these decades of ambuscades and skirmishes” describing them to be “getting bloodier by the day.”

“Let me make this appeal to you, if we cannot as yet, love one another, then in God’s name, let us not hate each other too much,” he added.

Still firm on his principle of inclusivity, President Duterte also appealed to our Moro brothers and sisters, alongside the communist rebels, to stop the fighting and help realize their shared desire for peace.

Ready to reciprocate

The President during his SONA also asked the “NDF and its forces [the NPAs] to respond accordingly” to his call.

In a letter addressed to Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, chair of the government peace panel negotiating with the NDF, sent immediately after the President’s SONA, NDF peace panel chair Luis Jalandoni welcomed the President’s announcement of the unilateral ceasefire and declared the NDFP’s own readiness to reciprocate as soon as they receive the full text of the ceasefire declaration.

The communist group also gave the assurance that “NDFP shared with President Duterte the determination to work for a just and lasting peace” in the country.

Jalandoni also looked forward to the resumption of the formal talks in August where both panels are expected to “exchange ceasefire declarations in order to discuss and agree further on how to make them effective.”

Road to peace

Earlier, President Duterte approved the peace roadmap for the country, which included the resumption of peace negotiations with the said communist group.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus G. Dureza explained that the parties are looking at August 20 for the resumption of the formal round of negotiations in Oslo, Norway. The Royal Norwegian Government will continue serving as talks’ third party facilitator.

At the same time, the President directed the Secretary of Justice and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs “to do everything within its power and authority” to effect the temporary release and travel of some CPP/NPA/NDF personalities who will participate in the Oslo talks pursuant to the previously signed Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees or JASIG.

Leading the government negotiating panel is Secretary Bello, with panel members former Agrarian Reform Secretary Hernani Braganza; former Commission on Elections Commissioner Rene Sarmiento; and lawyers Noel Felongco, and Angela Librado.

Prior to his formal assumption in office, Duterte sent a team composed of Dureza, Bello, and Braganza to hold preliminary meetings with the NDF panel to discuss the reopening of the peace talks and its agenda.

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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)