As members of the National Democratic Front’s peace negotiating panel are preparing for the upcoming second round of talks in Oslo, Norway in three days, an official of the government peace panel met with the leaders in an informal talks.
Three days before the second round of peace talks in Oslo, Norway, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) urged the Philippine government to release all political prisoners in “compliance with the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).”
Both the negotiating panels of the Philippine government (GRP) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) will exchange drafts on a proposed bilateral ceasefire and an amnesty proclamation as the second round of peace talks will resume in Oslo, Norway on Thursday, October 6.
National Democratic Front peace panel chairman Luis Jalandoni said they are hoping that there will be concrete steps undertaken to come up with the proclamation.
Peace consultants of the National Democratic Front said there is a need to reverse government policies to enact national industrialization, one of the issues of the comprehensive agreement on socioeconomic reform agenda that will be tackled by both the government and the NDF in the second round of talks next week.
A church leader said that an agreement on social and economic reforms will address the root cause of the armed conflict.
Eastern Mindanao Command public information officer Major Ezra Balagtey said that since there are no records of any New People’s Army (NPA) activities, the 10th Infantry Division will continue with its peace and development outreach program.
The chairman of the National Democratic Front’s Peace Panel said despite his contradictions, President Rodrigo Duterte showed strength, particularly in pursuing the peace negotiations.
