Photo from ATTY. EDRE OLALIA, NDFP LEGAL CONSULTANT
The consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) met in Utrecht, The Netherlands ahead of the resumption of formal peace negotiations between the government and Communist rebels at Oslo, Norway from August 22 to 26.
In photos posted by NDFP legal consultant Atty. Edre Olalia on his Facebook account, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder and NDF chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison can be seen in a meeting with NDF chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni, consultants Rey Casambre, Randall Echanis, Connie Ledesma, Fidel Agcaoili, Atty. Rachel Pastores and cooperators Vic Lalad and Satur Ocampo.
Photo from ATTY. EDRE OLALIA, NDFP LEGAL CONSULTANT
Members of the International Legal Advisory Team of the NDFP panel were also present in the meeting.
READ: Duterte: All NDFP consultants will be in Oslo for peace talks
Olalia, who will also join in the peace talks, told INQUIRER.net that the meeting focused on preparations for the peace negotiations.
Photo from ATTY. EDRE OLALIA, NDFP LEGAL CONSULTANT
“Status of consultants’ releases and travel papers, skeds, delegation travel details, taskings, brainstorming, advance drafts of potential documents, technical preps & other matters [were the ones discussed],” Olalia said.
The negotiations in Oslo seek to end one of Asia’s longest-running insurgencies.
Both the communists and the government declared ceasefires ahead of the talks.
READ: Duterte restores ceasefire with Reds ahead of Oslo peace talks
The government under President Rodrigo Duterte has also freed 22 jailed NDFP political consultants so that they can join the peace negotiations. JE