THE National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) called for the resumption of peace talks with the government after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he would enforce all signed peace pacts with various rebel groups.
The NDFP is the umbrella organization of local communist-run organizations, including the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
“Our dedication to achieving a just and lasting peace remains steadfast, as we believe the negotiations present an effective means to address the underlying causes of the civil war,” NDFP Peace Negotiating Panel Chairman Julie de Lima said in a statement.
“The ongoing talks between the two delegations are meant to come up with an agreed framework for the negotiations toward forging an agreement that will address the root causes of the armed conflict,” she added.
De Lima said that signals emanating from the government in the past few months were “mixed and contradictory.”
She cited the statement of National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, saying that peace talks were unlikely to proceed.
On the other hand, de Lima said that Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said they were optimistic that the talks would resume.
“We hope that the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) can resolve these contradictory views,” she said.
The statement came days after Marcos said he would enforce all signed peace agreements with various rebel groups across the country.
“Rest assured that you can depend on this administration to implement all signed peace agreements for the security, inclusive progress, and stability not only in Mindanao but throughout [our] country,” the President said in his speech during the opening ceremony of the National Peace Consciousness Month on Monday.
“In the spirit of convergence, I urge you to continue working with all stakeholders in the region toward accountable, transparent, and people-centered governance in the region. We are likewise encouraging you to engage in a continuing open and constructive exchange and dialogue with government and its instrumentalities to discuss the experiences and challenges of our people in Mindanao so that we can provide responsive policies to serve you,” Marcos added.
Galvez said he was optimistic the government and the NDFP would be able to forge a final peace agreement during Marcos’ term.
“Very, very optimistic. Yes, within the term of the President — or even before the term ends,” he said.
Galvez was part of the drafting of the peace pact between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front when he was a general in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
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