QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — The fifth round of peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines will proceed this first week of August in the Netherlands.
Government Peace Panel chairman and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that they already communicated with the officials of NDFP who gladly welcomed the news.
“We welcome the recent statement of the National Democratic Front (NDF) reaffirming its support to the Philippine government’s fight against Maute, Abu Sayyaf, Ansar al-Khalifah Philippines (AKP) groups and other terrorist organizations wreaking havoc in Marawi City and other parts of the country,” Bello said in a statement.
In a statement on June 16, NDF chair Fidel Agcaoili said that he asked the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to halt its offensives forces to government troops but maintain defensive operations against Abu Sayyaf, Ansar Al Khilafah Philippines (AKP) and Maute Group.
“For all forces to be able to concentrate against Maute, Abu Sayyaf and AKP groups, the NDFP has recommended to the CPP to order all other NPA units in Mindanao to refrain from carrying out offensive operations against the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP), provided that the GRP order the AFP and PNP likewise to refrain from carrying out offensive operations against the NPA and people’s militia,” he said.
Because of this, the government has welcomed the NDFP’s support to fight the Maute, Abu Sayyaf and other terrorist organizations.
“The Philippine government hereby correspondingly reciprocates with the same declaration of not undertaking offensive operations against the New People’s Army to pave the way for the eventual signing of a mutually agreed bilateral ceasefire agreement and agreements on social and economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms and end of hostilities and disposition of forces towards a just and lasting peace,” Bello said.