By Raymund B. Villanueva
Kodao Productions
NOORDWIJK AAN ZEE, The Netherlands — The National Democratic Front (NDF) peace panel has formally offered the Duterte government “cooperation and coordination” in the “fight against terrorism, terrorist groups and acts of terrorism.”
After last-minute backchannel talks with Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III, the NDF said that the Armed Forces (AFP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) may be bound by a ceasefire agreement in specific areas to “counteract the Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf.”
Bello and GRP peace panel member Angela Trinidad returned to this city from trips in Italy and Switzerland and met with the NDF for four hours.
“He came with an offer if the NDF can issue a statement he could welcome and respond to,” Agcaoili said.
Bello was able to read the NDF statement before going to Schipol Airport for his flight back to Manila.
“I will just wait for a signed copy to be sent to me,” Bello told Kodao before leaving the hotel.
The NDF said should the GRP respond favorably to their statement, “ceasefire declarations that are unilateral but simultaneous and reciprocal” shall be issued.
Such ceasefire declarations should be negotiated and approved by the negotiating panels, Agcaoili said.
The NDF said the Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf are “terrorist groups linked to local reactionary forces, affiliated with the ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) and supported by the US-CIA (United States-Central Intelligence Agency) as well as other foreign entities.”
“By terrorism we mean actions that intimidate, terrorize and harm civilians solely and mainly in violation of human rights and international humanitarian law,” the NDF added.
Back to the negotiating table
The NDF also urged the GRP negotiating panel to come back to the negotiating table and realize the fifth round of formal talks as soon as possible.
“The GRP and NDF must act in consonance with the Filipino people’s clamor for peace negotiations and their demand for social, economic and political reforms to address the roots of the armed conflict and lay the basis for a just and lasting peace,” the NDF said.
The fifth round of formal talks originally scheduled to end today was aborted last May 28 when the GRP announced it will not participate for “lack of an enabling environment.”
Preparations for the fifth round of formal talks must be undertake through bilateral teams of the GRP and the NDF so that precious time is not lost, the NDF said.
The group added that all its panellists, legal and political consultants and other personnel in the peace negotiations must be allowed to return to the Philippines and subsequently attend the fifth round of formal talks.
GRP President Rodrigo Duterte earlier threatened to arrest and jail the NDF consultants who may return to the Philippines after the aborted talks. (kodao productions)
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