GRP-NDFP talks may resume in May; NDFP sets conditions 

Peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines may resume in early May, the chairman of its negotiating panel said Monday.

 

But for that to happen, the government must release 16 NDFP peace consultants — including Benito and Wilma Tiamzon whom the government says are top officials of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army — it is currently holding, NDFP negotiation panel chair Luis Jalandoni said at a forum in Quezon City.  

 

The government's refusal to release alleged rebels whom the NDFP said are consultants covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees has stalled peace negotiations since 2013.

 

The government has said the Tiamzons, who were arrested in Cebu in March 2014, are not covered by the JASIG.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the JASIG was not operational at the time of the arrest anyway because the computer file containing the names of NDFP's peace consultants could not be decrypted.

Jalandoni said Monday that the government must also release at least 200 political prisoners. "The priority (for release) is on those who are sick, elderly, and those who have been imprisoned for four years or more," he said.

 

He added the government must also work towards socio-economic reforms, including the removal of what he called the government's labor export policy, or the deployment of overseas Filipino workers that puts Filipinos in danger abroad. 

 

Jalandoni said the case of Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina who has been sentenced to death in Indonesia, is a result of that policy.

 

"Kung may political will, may posibilidad na within six months... before the end of Aquino's term, puwede pa [ang resumption of talks]," Jalandoni said.

 

He said, however, that the resumption of talks cannot lead to surrender. "Mahalaga dito sa peace [talks] na hindi mahulog sa katipulasyon," he said.

 

Government's call for sincerity

 

Earlier this month, the Armed Forces of the Philippines welcomed the possibility of the resumption of talks, but called on the CPP-NPA-NDF to show sincerity.

 

"The CPP-NPA-NDF must stop the abductions, killings, extortion activities, IED attacks, and other criminal acts which benefit no one, except those who actually profit from violence," AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said in a statement on Apr.18.

 

Jalandoni said that the NPA, which has been in an armed conflict with the government since 1969, has been releasing what it considers prisoners of war for humanitarian reasons and "in order to promote the resumption of peace talks."

 

The latest to be released, he said, were Cpl. Benjamin Samano and Pfc. Alvin Ricarte of the Philippine Army's 60th Infantry Battalion. 

 

The two soldiers were captured at a compound owned by a fruit company in a Davao del Norte town on Dec. 2 and turned over to Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Dec. 21. 
 

That same month, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles criticized the New People's Army for attacks on soldiers and civilians during a government-declared unilateral ceasefire.

 

One of those attacks claimed the lives of 1LT Ronald Bautista, Pfc. Albert Amor and civilian auxiliary Renel Baluca who were killed in Compostela Valley on Dec. 29. They were unarmed and on their way to spend the holidays with their families.

 

"We strongly condemn the pointless violence exercised by the CPP-NPA-NDF. If they are truly serious in their call for the resumption of peace negotiations with Government, we challenge‎ them to walk their talk and stop harassing development projects, civilians and unarmed soldiers on holiday.  There is no way to peace but through peace," Deles said then. - JJ, GMA News