Marcos pushes peace talks with Reds

THE MARCOS administration has resumed peace talks with communist rebels in an effort to find a peaceful resolution and resolve the roots of the armed conflict that had dragged on for many decades now.

Government and communist rebel negotiators signed a joint statement recently in Oslo, Norway and acknowledged the deep-rooted socio-economic and political grievances and 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 framework will set the parameters for the final peace accord.

“Cognizant of the serious socioeconomic and environmental issues, and the foreign security threats facing the country, the parties recognize the need to unite as a nation in order to urgently address these challenges and resolve the reasons for the armed conflict. Consequently, we envision and look forward to a country where a united people can live in peace and prosperity,” read the Oslo Joint Communiqué.

It said the Joint Statement is a product of a series of informal discussions held in the Netherlands and Norway starting in 2022 between the emissaries of the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) with the facilitation of the Royal Norwegian Government.

The Oslo Joint Communiqué was signed by the Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr.; Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.; and former General Emmanuel Bautista; and by the NDFP National Executive Council Member Luis Jalandoni; Negotiating Panel Interim Chairperson Julieta de Lima; and Panel Member Coni Ledesma.

The signing was witnessed by the Royal Norwegian Government Special Envoy Kristina Lie Revheim. Lagdameo and Jalandoni expressed optimism as to the positive path to peace that both parties shall now work on.

The National Security Council is also supporting the resumption of the peace talks.

Devil’s advocate

Filipino lawmakers and members of the multi-sectoral groups, including other stakeholders have favored the resumption of the peace talks but Vice President Sara Duterte called the Oslo Joint Communiqué an “agreement with the devil.”

“Mr. President, the government’s statement with the NDFP in Oslo was an agreement with the devil. They will use these peace negotiations to betray the government and deceive the public,” Duterte said.

Her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, also freed key rebel leaders to jumpstart the resumption of the peace negotiations during his term but failed to reach a pact.

Strong support

Different government agencies expressed support for the Joint Oslo Communiqué with Galvez saying that it is a significant milestone in the Filipino people’s quest to achieve peace, reconciliation, and unity.

With the joint communiqué and the issuance of the joint statement, Galvez said that there will be some sort of collective positions between parties that are very firm and committed to have a final discussion on the final peace agreement.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said that although the joint communiqué still has no immediate effect on the ground, an eventual peace pact with the rebels will eliminate the basis for them to wage armed struggle in the country.

“Gusto ko lang maidagdag siguro na kapag itong usapin na ito ay magbunga sa isang kasunduan, mawawala ang final ostensible political basis na mang-wage ang grupo na nag-i- espouse ng CPP-NPA-NDF line for any armed struggle. That will be erased, the political basis for it. So it is important,” Teodoro said.

For the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said that the joint communiqué is very good news for the military “because it is the soldier, more than anybody else, who wants lasting peace.”

“Kasi nga po para sa amin, parang naging personal na itong laban na ito. Marami sa aming kasamahan ang namatay dahil dito sa insurgency na ito. Marami sa aming kamag-anak, pinsan ko mismo, namatay sa kamay ng New People’s Army,” Brawner said.

“So, this is really a personal victory for us, and aside from that, if this conflict will finally end, your Armed Forces of the Philippines will be able to shift our focus on external or territorial defense. So, resources, efforts will be poured into defending our territory,” he added.

National Police Chief General Benjamin Acorda also welcomed the recent communiqué between the government and the rebel group, hoping this will lead to an actual peace accord.

“This is a very welcome development, I hope this will lead really to a long and lasting peace and I look at it as way of adding more food to the table, sa mga Pilipino, and instead of spending more money for the above, ammunition and other armaments, madadagdagan po iyong ating mga makinarya at saka mga istraktura that will help us attain maximum development. That’s how I look at it, and it’s a very welcome development po,” he said.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said he believes it is time to put closure to five decades of armed communist rebellion in the country. He expressed optimism that the exploratory discussion would lead to a final peace accord that will end the conflict considering that, based on world’s history, all wars ended in negotiations and settlements.

“And I think, it’s about time to have closure, closure that is acceptable to everybody, to the Filipino people. Particularly, ending the armed struggle so with this, I think, this is a very, very good opportunity to be able to give—but amnesty is actually in tandem with is particular agreement and maybe this is the final agreement that we can come to and matapos na rin iyong armed struggle,” Año said.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjmain Abalos Jr. said local governments will feel the net effect of a peace agreement because the impact is in the grassroots. “Ramdam ng local government units especially those affected by insurgency. What is important will be this transition period na kung saan, of course, sabi nga ng ating mahal na Pangulo, it’s a whole-of-government approach kaya nandirito kami lahat ngayon,” Abalos said.

“Peace and order is always key to every economic development. So, diyan na papasok lahat, magtutulungan lahat ang ahensiya towards this goal. Of course, nandiyan sa grassroots ang local government units,” he added.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian also voiced support for the renewed exploratory talks between the government and the insurgents. “Sa amin sa DSWD, ang lente na tinitingnan namin ay kahirapan at kagutuman. So, kami ang primary goal namin is maiahon ang bawat Pilipino mula sa kahirapan at kagutuman. So, iyon ang aming mandato dito for every single Filipino,” Gatchalian said.

The National Economic and Development Authority also welcomed the recent communiqué. “Sa NEDA naman, as we all know, instability particularly political and in this case itong instability, war is very, very costly to the economy and so efforts to achieve peace particularly in the countryside is surely inclusive and growth-inducing. So, napaka-important sa atin iyong peace efforts sa ganito,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said. (Mindanao Examiner)