More organizations have urged the Marcos Jr. administration to resume the peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF) even as national security adviser and former military chief Gen. Eduardo Ano has expressed pessimism that the negotiations would continue.
On Sept. 8, 2024, the Council of Leaders for Peace Initiatives (CLPI) joined the Citizens’ Alliance for Just Peace (CAJP), and its three major peace networks – Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP), Pilgrims for Peace, and Waging Peace Philippines – in urging both the NDF and the Philippine government (GRP) to resume peace negotiations promptly.
Convenor Dean Antonio M. la Vina said CLPI welcomes the statements of Juliet de Lima, chairperson of the NDF Peace Negotiating Panel and Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (PAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. who both expressed optimism that the ongoing exploratory talks between the GRP and the NDF could lead to the formal resumption of peace talks that former president Rodrigo Duterte unilaterally scrubbed using the lamest of reasons.
CLPI, which counts on an initial 16 convenors, noted that both the NDF and GRP signed a joint statement in Oslo, Norway on Nov. 23, 2023 in which the parties agreed to work for a principled and peaceful resolution of the armed conflict but such statement was immediately criticized by the hawks led by Ano, who was tagged by some officials as virulently opposed to a comprehensive settlement of the armed conflict. Aside from heading the National Security Council (NSC), Ano is also the chairman of the Duterte-created red-tagging machinery called the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which can play with an appropriation of P7.8 billion to pursue its counterinsurgency campaign.
La Vina said CLPI was heartened to know that the joint statement acknowledged deep-rooted socioeconomic and political grievances and the NDF and GRP agreed to come up “with a framework that sets the priorities for the peace negotiation with the aim of achieving the relevant socioeconomic and political reforms towards a just and lasting peace.” The CLPI said the Marcos administration is confident that it could sign the final peace agreement with the NDF even as some discordant voices within the government argued that the talks would not prosper. “We are also happy that NDF Peace Panel Chairperson de Lima has reiterated her commitment to the resumption of peace negotiations to achieve a just and lasting peace,” la Vina said.
CLPI noted with concern that “there are elements in the Marcos administration who continue to oppose what the President has agreed to pursue in the Oslo statement. We call on the President to instruct those contrary and anti-peace voices within his government to align with the statement of Secretary Galvez.” It added: “With both parties willing and committed to the process, CLPI believes it is time to move forward on the exploratory talks and agree on the framework for the peace negotiation. Among others, it would be helpful for both parties to acknowledge the history of this process and the agreements that have been earlier agreed upon, to name the members of their respective panels, the main agenda items that are subject to negotiation and agreement, and a timeline/schedule of the talks.”
“It would also be good to agree and announce confidence building measures, including release of NDF peace consultants, protection, protocols and mechanism for participants in the process and temporary ceasefires. We look forward to more resolute steps towards this new beginning and offer full support and assistance of CLPI’s constituency to make sure the pathway to peace opens up, progress is made, and a good conclusion is achieved,” CLPI argued.
The Nov. 18, 2023 joint statement recognized “the serious socioeconomic and environmental issues and the foreign security threats” that the Philippines confronts. Those threats have not disappeared and in fact have accelerated. More than ever, as expressed in the Oslo statement, we “need to unite as a nation in order to urgently address these challenges and resolve the reasons for the armed conflict.’” However, the Marcos Jr. administration must be prepared to pursue the path by disciplining elements within its fold who may sabotage the talks not only through intrigue but through violent means.
