(Eagle News) — Government peace panel chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III announced on Tuesday (July 4) that the government would resume peace talks with the National Democratic Front in August.
Bello, who also serves as the Labor Secretary, said they have an “initial understanding” to pursue the fifth round of talks probably in the second or third week of August.
He said he talked with NDF peace panel chair Fidel Agcaoili on Sunday and they both agreed to continue peace negotiations next month.
Before that, to ensure the smoothness of the talks, the two panels will also hold informal talks in the third or last week of July here in Asia. They are considering Hong Kong or the Philippines as venue, although the NDF reportedly wanted it in Japan.
“Para maganda, we will have a good result, there will be an informal meeting with the panel, and the meeting may be in Asia or in the Philippines,” said Bello.
Informal meeting this month
“There will be an informal meeting and they will discuss mainly the issue of socioeconomic reforms and iyong possible interim unilateral ceasefire. Mag-usap na sila para pagdating ng August, eh maliwanag na. And it will only be for submission to the panel for formal approval by the panels,” Bello told reporters.
Earlier on Saturday, July 1, President Rodrigo Duterte called on the New People’s Army (NPA) to stop conducting attacks on government forces if its leaders are serious in pursuing peace talks with the government.
The President expressed his frustration over the continuing attacks by the NPA on government forces despite the ongoing peace talk which leaders of the NDF and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) led by Jose Maria Sison are pushing to resume.
Duterte to NPA: Stop waging war
“Would you please stop waging war? Alam mo hindi ko kayo maintindihan. Unang sabi doon sa itaas, si Sison ordered to engage government forces in this struggle… That they changed it so that they will stop until such time matapos itong sa Marawi siege. Kasi walang— ang sabi ko nga eh, there will never be a space for you kung terrorist ka, kayong mga komunista. Wala kayong space diyan sa terorista,” Duterte said.
“In the meantime kung mag-usap tayo in the future, then stop waging war kasi baka itong mga sundalo ayaw na rin makipag-usap,” Duterte said during the 50th Araw ng Davao del Sur held at the Davao del Sur Coliseum in Digos City on Saturday, July 1.
The President said that he does “not control everything” as he advised communist leaders to show their sincerity in pursuing peace.