After a week of negotiations, the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines concluded the third round of talks here on Wednesday night, Jan. 25.
Jose Maria Sison, founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, missed the closing ceremony of the third round of talks with the Philippine government here after being admitted to the hospital Wednesday night.
Peace panels of the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front signed ground rules on the last day of the six-day peace talks, in the hope to speed up the negotiations on social and economic reforms.
Government peace panel chairperson Silvestre Bello III said the basis of the request is Sison’s participation to the peace process.
The government peace panel and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines will meet again of the fourth week of next month to discuss the proposed bilateral ceasefire agreement and issues on the implementation of the provisions of Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law directly connected to the ceasefire.
National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace panel chair Fidel Agcaoili called the military operations in Southern Philippines and the killings of two activists last week as efforts out to sabotage the peace negotiations.
The Tiamzon couple of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace panel shrugs off the rumor about the alleged factions inside the NDFP.
National Democratic Front of the Philippines Negotiating Panel chairperson Fidel Agcaoili is not totally closed to the idea of forging a bilateral ceasefire agreement with the Philippine government.
Eighteen years after the signing of the first substantial agreement in the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace negotiations, the Joint Monitoring Committee task to monitor violations and implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law will now be fully operational.
Philippine Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza is taking a few days off the peace talks here to join a peace forum organized by the United Nations in New York City on Saturday.
