THE government will resume the peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF) should it see a “lowering level of violence” on the side of the communists.
According to Chief Negotiator and Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, the government panel is closely monitoring the situation in the countryside to evaluate if the environment is conducive for peace negotiations.
“We are still waiting for better developments,” Bello told the BusinessMirror. No other than President Duterte has expressed willingness to resume the suspended fifth round of peace talks, following the safe return of a police formerly captured by the New People’s Army (NPA).
“Now, if you want to resume the talks…I am not averse to the idea. But let me sort out first the other branches of the government,” the President said on September 16.
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) issued a rejoinder on Tuesday, saying it is still open to negotiating with the government.
“As the Party and the NDF have often stated, it is the policy of the revolutionary forces to remain open to peace negotiations with any ruling regime that expresses willingness to seriously discuss the roots of the armed conflict, in accordance to previously agreed principles and procedures as stipulated in The Hague Declaration,” the CPP said.
The CPP added “the ball is still in Duterte’s hands”, and it would only agree to return to the peace table if the government
panel drops its precondition of a bilateral cease-fire.
Asked what “better developments” is the government panel looking for to resume the peace talks, Bello said they would appreciate if the NPA decrease its offensives against the military.
“[We want to see a] lowering level of violence,” Bello added.
On the other hand, NDF Legal Consultant Edre U. Olalia declined to give a comment on the possible resumption of the peace talks.
“Given the sensitive nature of the situation, I would, at this time, defer to my principal’s official take on this,” Olalia said in a text message.
The government panel in May withdrew from the fifth round of talks, following the CPP’s issuance of an order to the NPA to heighten offensives and accelerate recruitmetnt in the face of the President’s martial-law declaration in Mindanao. Backchannel efforts to revive the peace negotiations failed after the NPA attacked in August a convoy of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) in Arakan, Cotabato, killing five PSG units and one militiaman.
On the other hand, the Philippine Left severed ties with the government after its nominees in the Cabinet were rejected by the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA): first, former Social Welfare Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo and, second, former Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael V. Mariano. The CA’s rejections of Taguiwalo and Mariano was considered a sign of insincerity on the part of the administration in its alliance with the Philippine Left. This prompted the Makabayan bloc, the seven-member coalition of militant lawmakers, to leave the House majority.