Bayan: Peace talks will define Duterte admin’s direction

Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Saturday said the results of the upcoming round of peace talks will determine the “direction the Duterte government will take.”

“…Whether it will stand for genuine change or if it will veer more to the Right and resist change,” Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes said in a statement.

The Philippine government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) are set to meet in Rome in January for the third round of formal peace talks.

READ: Duterte, Sison agree on advancement of peace process

The NDF is expected to demand the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) with the United States.

Reyes said 2016 was a challenging year “with many important developments that shook the political landscape.”

“A lot of these have to do with the rise of the Duterte presidency and the people’s response to his policies and pronouncements,” he said.

Reyes said the Filipino people has shown their “desire for change” by joining protests, including the ones in Kidapawan, Luisita and the US Embassy, which resulted in violent dispersals.

He also referred to the armed struggle in Mindanao and the peace negotiations in Oslo, Norway.

“We thank the people for their tireless vigilance and unwavering commitment to fight for a truly free and democratic Philippines,” he said.

The group also praised the Filipino youth for opposing “historical revisionism” and joining protests against the burial of the late president Ferdinand Marcos. CDG