Gov’t, NDF resume peace talks

ROME—The government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) peace panels appear to have different expectations of the third round of negotiations but both parties said they were determined to make it successful.

Government chief negotiator and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said both parties wished to see a significant progress in the proposed bilateral ceasefire agreement, which will replace the present 5-month unilateral ceasefire declarations.

“Hopefully we can have a positive development on the discussion on the joint ceasefire agreement and then a consensus on the socio-economic reforms and there will be initial discussion on political and constitutional reforms,” Bello said on Wednesday evening.

The deadline for the crafting of the bilateral ceasefire agreement is on Oct. 26 yet but the two parties have failed to resolve the issues on the release of political prisoners, and alleged ceasefire violations on the ground.

The government earlier promised that more releases will be made once the NDF agree to sign a bilateral ceasefire agreement.

“Bebot (Bello) is unfair. He should not tie the ceasefire with the releases,” NDF chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili previously said.

Agcaoili said during the first round of talks in August that the government asked the NDF to extend its one-week unilateral ceasefire.

“They said it would be an exchange. The NDF will extend its ceasefire and the government will release political prisoners. So we took it. But since August no political prisoners were released,” Agcaoili said on Wednesday.  —WITH A REPORT FROM AP