Presidential Peace Adviser, Secretary Jesus Dureza (Medel V. Hernani/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY — Even after the government and the National Democratic Front signed the Joint Statement on the Resumption of the Formal Peace Talks in the Peace Negotiations, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza said that they could not guarantee whether there will be no more skirmishes between government troops and the Communist guerrillas.
“Will there be some incidents? We cannot totally discount incidents on the ground. But the idea is the leadership of both sides is committed to maintain a ceasefire,” Dureza said during a press conference upon their arrival at the NAIA Terminal 1 in Pasay City from the first round of the formal negotiations in Oslo, Norway. Dureza was joined by panel adviser, Angeles City Mayor Eduardo Pamintuan.
Dureza said that it is important to set mechanisms to prevent skirmishes, to identify the party who will intervene, and to find out how such incident occurred under a ceasefire. He said what was most important is the formal talks that was stalled since 2011 has resumed.
Both Parties have declared its own unilateral ceasefire. The Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Operational Command of the New People’s Army (NPA) has reciprocated the indefinite ceasefire issued by President Rodrigo Duterte with a declaration of an interim ceasefire to all commands and units of the NPA and people’s militias on Sunday, August 28.
The Joint Statement reads that both Parties “agreed to work through their respective ceasefire committees to reconcile and develop their separate unilateral ceasefire orders into a single unified bilateral document within 60 days from the date of this Joint Statement.”
The government and the NDF will also discuss the role of a third party who will monitor and mediate in relation to the implementation of the ceasefire. It will also set up a mechanism for handling complaints and alleged violations.
Dureza said what is important is that the negotiations that was stalled in 2011 has now resumed.
“That’s why I said that, don’t think that this is going to be a walk in the park. There will be a lot of issues, sensitive issues, there will be challenges long the way,” he said.
Most difficult part
Dureza warned that after a final peace agreement is signed, the implementation is the “most difficult part.”
“You know after the final peace agreement, don’t think that it’s an end and everybody rejoices. The most difficult part is the implementation of peace agreements,” said Dureza.
He said the implementation of the signed agreement is “as difficult as the negotiation stage because the expectation of the people on the ground are heightened.”
He also said it is important for the media to be reminded of the sensitivity of the ceasefire.
“Maling word na ginamit mo lang it can create a conflict already. It’s something that we have to nurture very well (Any wrong word you use can create a conflict already),” he said.
No walkouts
Meanwhile, Pamintuan compared the peace talks now with the previous talks in the past.
“There was not even one walkout. No collapse. Unlike in the past na wala pa kaming dalawang araw eh nagwo-walk out na (Unlike in the past when we have not yet reached our second day, there will already be walk-outs),” he said.
“There is a lot of goodwill on both sides,” he said.
Dureza added that “if there is a commitment on both sides really to work out things, then there is nothing that can stop a final settlement.” (davaotoday.com)
