After more than half a decade of impasse, the first round of peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) ended with the two parties agreeing on all six points in their agenda.
“The Joint Statement that you are about to sign is unprecedented and a step toward just and lasting peace,” said Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende in the closing ceremonies of the five-day peace talks.
The two parties signed a Joint Statement on August 26, noon (Oslo time), at the Saga Hall of the Scandic Holmenkollen Park Hotel.
“It has been a good week for Norway as third party facilitator,” said Brende, referring to the recently concluded talks between the Colombian government and the FARC.
Secretary Silvestre Bello III, GRP Negotiating Panel Chair, cited the issues of “release of prisoners, Amnesty Proclamation and ceasefire” as controversial issues, but commended the work of both panels to seeing through these issues.
Luis Jalandoni, NDFP Negotiating Panel Chair, praised the “strong commitment of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the spirit of goodwill and friendliness of the GRP Negotiating Panel” that contributed to the success of the talks.
“I am sure that the Filipino people appreciate the work of the two negotiating panels and that they are elated by the results of the formal talks. These advance their struggle for national and social liberation and for a just and lasting peace,” said Jose Maria Sison, NDFP Chief Political Consultant.
Last points to be agreed in the three days of Panel-to-Panel meetings in the peace talks are on the Amnesty Proclamation and the ceasefire.
The sixth point in the Joint Statement is the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the NDFP declaration of an indefinite unilateral ceasefire order to the New People’s Army effective upon the end of their current ceasefire order on August 27, 2016. This is in response to the unilateral ceasefire of President Rodrigo Duterte on August 21.
The panels agreed to “reconcile and develop their separate unilateral ceasefire orders into a single unified bilateral document within 60 days from the signing of the Joint Statement.”
Both parties agreed on an Amnesty Proclamation that the GRP would recommend to the NDFP. Said proclamation would be subject to the concurrence of Congress. The proclamation would effect the release of prisoners listed by the NDFP and all other political prisoners.
“Norway is committed to assist you in your way to peace. We are happy to welcome you again in October,” assured Brende.
The two Panels decided to meet again in October 8 to 12, 2016 in Oslo, Norway.
By then, working committees on social and economic reforms and working groups on political and constitutional reforms and end of hostilities and disposition of forces would start their work.
The two parties are striving to come up with a full text draft of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms six months from their next meeting.
Earlier this week, the two panels have already agreed to reaffirm all previously signed agreements, and accelerate the peace negotiations process.
In its statement, the NDFP said “The next round of talks in October is crucial because the needed social, economic and political reforms will be on the agenda. Without such agreement on the needed reforms there can be no sustainable and lasting peace.”
