CPP lays out demands to bolster peace negotiations between gov’t, NDFP

MANILA, Philippines — The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Tuesday laid out its demands to further bolster the peace negotiations between its political wing, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), and the government.

The NDFP and the Philippine government, through a joint communique, have reached a tentative agreement to seek a peaceful resolution to armed conflict.

“The Oslo Joint Statement is a first half-step in the long march leading to the resumption of formal peace negotiations, and in the even longer road of achieving the people’s aspiration for a just and lasting peace,” CPP spokesperson Marco Valbuena said in a statement.

“To clear the road for peace negotiations, it is the distinct responsibility of Marcos to take the initiative to sweep away the Duterte-period thorns and spikes which litter it,” Valbuena also said.

To allow the negotiations to move forward, Valbuena said the government should release all the NDFP peace consultants and repeal the “terrorist designation” of the NDFP, the CPP, and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).

“These are critical and practical measures, without which it is doubtful that peace negotiations can even proceed,” Valbuena said of this request.

The CPP also urged Marcos to dismantle the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, as well as the release of all political prisoners, which Valbuena said now stands at over 800 people.

Valbuena said the dismantling of NTF-Elcac and the release of political prisoners will make “the march towards peace to move forward quickly.”

Established on March 29, 1969, the NPA wages the longest-running Maoist insurgency in the world.