NDF: The Facts Contradict Lacierda’s False Claim

From the NDF Website (Feb 17): The Facts Contradict Lacierda’s False Claim  

by Luis G. Jalandoni
Chairperson, NDFP Negotiating Panel

The Aquino regime’s spokesman, Edwin Lacierda, should check the facts before pronouncing the false claim that “they (the National Democratic Front of the Philippines [NDFP]) refused to come to the table.” Following the successful attack of the New People’s Army in Cagayan causing casualties among legitimate military targets, 6 killed and 8 seriously wounded, Lacierda was asked if the Aquino government was interested in holding peace negotiations with the revolutionary movement represented by the NDFP. His answer, in contradiction to the facts, tries to put the blame on the revolutionary movement.

The facts are: 1) in October, December 2014 and February 2015, the NDFP Negotiating Panel received a delegation from the Aquino regime which was led by former DAR Secretary, Hernani Braganza, close associate of then DILG Secretary Mar Roxas. 2) On December 8, 2014, a Draft Peace Agreement was signed by both sides, authenticated by Royal Norwegian Government Special Envoy, Ms. Elisabeth Slattum, proposing truce and cooperation within the term of the Aquino government. 3) On February 18, 19 and 20, 2015, the team of Mr. Braganza returned and a proposal for truce and cooperation was drafted by both sides to be presented to the Aquino regime, then beleaguered with the Mamasapano fiasco

These efforts were rebuffed and set aside by OPAPP Secretary Teresita Deles and not acted on by GPH President Aquino. The Braganza team was disauthorized. The combined peace initiatives of the Braganza team, the NDFP Negotiating Panel and the Royal Norwegian Government Special Envoy thus have come to naught. The responsibility lies squarely on Secretary Deles and President Aquino.

http://www.ndfp.org/the-facts-contradict-lacierdas-false-claim/