By Francis Wakefield
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary Jesus Dureza on Thursday said that the doors for the resumption of peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) are still open.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus G. Dureza
(Keith Bacongco / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a statement, Dureza, however, said that the resumption of talks is still subject to the conditions of President Rodrigo Duterte, one of which is
that "there will be no coalition government."
Dureza also said the venue for the talks should be in the Philippines and that the communists should stop collecting the so-called revolutionary tax.
There will also be a ceasefire agreement in which armed NPA members are encamped in designated areas.
Dureza said that in the meantime, localized peace arrangements may be pursued by the local government units with the insurgents in their respective areas of responsibility.
"This 'way forward' in the stalled peace talks was decided following the consolidation of various positions expressed during the command conference convened by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte last night in Malacañang," Dureza said.
"The President also expressed his wish that Norway continues as facilitator in the event the peace talks are resumed," he added. (Francis T. Wakefield)