PH peace panel ready for 2nd round of talks with NDF

WINNING MOMENT
Members of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (from left) Fidel Agcaoili, Coni Ledesma, Jose Maria Sison, Luis Jalandoni, Juliet de Lima and Asterio Palima raise their fists and hold an NDFP flag to mark the end of the first round of peace talks with the government panel in Oslo, Norway. EDRE OLALIA/CONTRIBUTOR

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The Philippine government is all set for the next round of formal peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF) from October 6 to 10 in Oslo, Norway, a government peace adviser said on Sunday.
Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, an adviser of the Philippine peace panel and national president of the League of City of the Philippines, said all reciprocal working groups were “functioning well.”
“I think it’s all systems go for the next round. We’re ready for peace,” Pamintuan said in a statement.

The Duterte administration revived the negotiations, stalled during the Arroyo administration, by approving the temporary release of several leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) who serve as advisers of the NDF peace panel.

READ: Duterte: All NDFP consultants will be in Oslo for peace talks

The first round of talks was held last August 22 to 28, also in Oslo.

READ: Peace talks between PH gov’t, Reds resume

The CPP, NDF and the New People’s Army have waged one of the longest insurgencies in Asia as they seek genuine agrarian reform, national industrialization and an independent foreign policy. RAM/rga