The peace talks with the government and the communists would only resume if the New People’s Army, the armed-wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, would stop collecting revolutionary taxes, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday.
The Reciprocal Working Committee on Socio-Economic Reforms of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP RWC-SER) castigated Defense Chief Delfin Lorenzana Jr. for his previous statement that the government should consider ending the peace process if communist guerrillas continue their offensives against the government.
The peace panels are back to their feet as the government peace panel chief Silvestre Bello said the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines will possibly resume the negotiations next month.
The government peace panel is asking the Department of Justice (DOJ) to immediately review the case of a bishop who was arrested with a communist leader in Ozamis City last month.
The resumption of peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines may happen in August or September this year, the Communist Party of the Philippines said Wednesday.