PNP, AFP support possible resumption of peace talks

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday supported the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to return to the peace negotiation table with communist rebels.

"The AFP supports the administration in all its efforts and initiatives to bring just and lasting peace and development for the country. We will continue performing our mission and mandate of protecting  the people and securing the state," AFP spokesperson Brigadier General Bienvenido Datuin said in a statement.

While the police force also supported the President's decision, PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao reiterated that communist rebels should "show sincerity and good faith while talking peace with the government."

"The PNP is pro-peace and we support all government efforts to achieve lasting peace. All of us have witnessed the sincerity of the government through President Duterte for exhausting all possible means to hold the peace negotiation with the CPP/NPA/NDF [Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army/National Democratic Front]," Bulalacao said.

"They need to show control of their men on the ground so that the final peace talk may succesfully work," he added.

Duterte on Wednesday declared his plan to revive the peace negotiations with the communists "with clear instructions on the importance of forging a ceasefire agreement to stop mutual attacks and fighting while talks are underway," according to Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza.

CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison said that the NDFP is also "open and ready" to return to the negotiating table with the government.

He said that with Duterte's announcement, he is expecting the government and NDFP negotiating panels "to meet as soon as possible."

Sison, however, said that there should be no preconditions for the resumption of peace talks, noting that the decision of Duterte to go back to the negotiating table is being welcomed as a good development.

Earlier, more than 60 lawmakers from the House of Representatives signed a resolution urging Duterte to resume the peace negotiations with the CPP-NPA-NDF.

Duterte, on November 23 last year, signed Proclamation No. 360 terminating the peace negotiations, just two days before the Fifth Round of formal talks scheduled on November 25-27 in Oslo, Norway.

Both negotiating panels were supposed to discuss the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms, as well as agreements on general amnesty and release of all political prisoners and the coordinated unilateral ceasefires. —KG, GMA News