No preconditions for peace: Galvez

From the Visayan Daily Star (Dec 21, 2019): No preconditions for peace: Galvez

Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Carlito Galvez said yesterday that there should be no pre-conditions for the resumption of peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front.

This developed as 131 members of the House of Representatives crossed party lines to call for the resumption of peace talks in a resolution citing previous agreements such as the Hague Joint Declaration of 1992 and the Stand-Down Agreement in 2018.

Galvez expressed support for the peace talks, but said there should be no release of NDF peace consultants, which was allowed before.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte had said he is giving peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) another shot, months after he officially slammed the door on the possible resumption of peace talks with the communist group.

Ka Juanito Magbanua, spokesman of the NPA Apolinario Gatmaitan Command, said in a statement that war hawks in the military-laden cabinet of President Duterte are working against the resumption of peace talks, and are actively sabotaging goodwill measures, including the ceasefire for holidays, and release of sickly and elderly political prisoners on humanitarian grounds, including Ka Frank Fernandez and Ka Cleofe Lagtapon.

Col. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, reiterated yesterday that they will continue their normal peace and development campaign during the holiday season, to protect communities from possible violent attacks of the New People’s Army, in connection with the 51st founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

On Nov. 23, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte, through Proclamation 360, shelved the peace negotiations between the national government peace panel and the NDF consultants due to the series of attacks waged by NPA rebels against state forces and civilians.

But Duterte said he is giving peace negotiations with the CPP another shot, months since he officially slammed the door on the possible resumption of peace talks with the communist group.*

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/December/21/topstory2.htm