Mixed signals from gov’t on resuming peace talks

The state security forces apparently have paused their periodically repeated crowing that they could – through military means – end within this year the 55-year running armed conflict between the government and the Left revolutionary forces.

Opting for a negotiated peaceful resolution of the armed conflict once again is being considered instead.

Just the other day, presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. (a former AFP chief) told The STAR in a text message:

“We need to continue the dialogue [with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)] and remove the conditions that can stall our aspiration for the final peace agreement. I am very positive and confident that with mutual respect, goodwill and understanding, we can finally achieve a principled and peaceful ending of the armed conflict and be able to transform the lives of our people towards lasting peace and development.”

Galvez said that the exploratory talks between the two sides are still ongoing and what he referred to as a “mission statement” is being finalized. It’s not clear when the new exploratory talks began.

Recall that on Nov. 23, 2023, the government and the NDFP signed a joint statement in Oslo, Norway that they had agreed to return to peace negotiations. The signatories were Luis Jalandoni, the long-time former chief negotiator for the NDFP, and Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo, Special Assistant to the President, signing for the GRP.

After almost two years of discreet informal discussions in Oslo, facilitated by the Norwegian government, the two sides arrived at a consensus on the following:

• Cognizance of all serious socioeconomic and environmental issues and the foreign security threats facing the country and the need to unite as a nation to urgently address these challenges and resolve the reasons for the armed conflict;

• Principled and peaceful resolution of the armed conflict, resolving its roots and ending it “shall pave the way for the transformation of the CPP-NPA-NDFP;”

• Agreeing on the framework that sets the priority for the peace negotiations with the aim of achieving the relevant socioeconomic and political reforms towards a just and lasting peace and

• Such framework