Roque says Proclamation No. 360 enough to notify NDF on halt of peace talks

It would be “superfluous” for the National Democratic Front (NDF) to demand for a written notice of the termination of the peace talks, a Palace official said Tuesday, reiterating that the government has given “enough leeway” for the communists in the negotiations.

“What else do they want? The President already issued a proclamation saying it’s been terminated,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing.

READ: Duterte signs Proclamation No. 360 terminating peace talks with NPA

“It’s not as if the NDF has a status of a state. It’s not as if we’re dealing with a treaty entered into between state parties. That’s enough that there is a formal proclamation,” he added.

“Whether or not they will be given a formal letter of termination, to me, that would be superfluous.”

The NDF earlier said that it is still waiting for the written notice of termination from the government after President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 360, which formally terminated the intermittent talks with the NDF, its ideological wing the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), and armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA).

Roque stressed that because the peace talks are over, there is no longer an imperative for the government to honor the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig).

“I think that’s to facilitate the conduct of peace talks. But since there are no more peace talks, there is no imperative to recognize this Jasig,” Roque said.

The Jasig is one of the three key agreements between the government and the NDF, which ensures the safety and immunity of negotiators, consultants, and staff participating in the negotiations.

The agreement guarantees duly-accredited persons the immunity from surveillance, harassment, search, arrest, detention, prosecution and interrogation or any other similar punitive actions due to any involvement or participation in the peace negotiations.

Under the agreement, the Jasig is binding and effective on both parties until it is terminated by either party through an official notice of termination to the other party, and shall be considered terminated 30 days after receipt of the other party. /jpv