Marcos seeks support for new peace talks with NDFP

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. asked for the «wholehearted support of all Filipinos» as the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines renew their bid for a peaceful resolution to the country's decades-old armed conflict.

«We have always advocated and striven for a peaceful, prosperous, and unified country. Today, I firmly believe that we have taken a bold, meaningful, and optimistic step toward the fulfillment of this aspiration for all Filipinos,» Marcos said in a statement posted on his official social media accounts.

«I call upon the wholehearted support of all Filipinos as your government extends, in good faith, our nation's goodwill to those ready to welcome and embrace our collective vision of peace, national reconciliation, and unity,» he added.

The Chief Executive made the pronouncement following the announcement on Tuesday of presidential peace adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. that representatives of the government and NDFP signed a joint communique aimed at «resolving the roots of the armed conflict and ending the armed struggle» with the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People's Army.

The document was signed on November 23 in Oslo, Norway.

It was witnessed by the Royal Norwegian Government Special Envoy Kristina Lie Revheim.

«As reflected in the Joint Statement between our government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in recognizing the 'serious socioeconomic, environmental, and foreign security threats' facing our nation today, both parties have agreed to a principled and peaceful resolution of the armed conflict so that we may finally face these challenges as a unified nation,» Marcos said.

Galvez earlier clarified that there will be no resumption of the suspended peace negotiations.

«We will start anew,» he said, adding that the government is looking to draft the framework «in mid-first quarter» next year.