Gov’t all set for Rome talks

Manila, Philippines (The Redline News Philippines) - Chief government negotiator Silvestre Bebot III will submit today to President Rodrigo Duterte

the draft documents that will be tabled for discussion during the 3rd rounds of peace talks with

the National Democratic Front (NDF) when negotiations resume on January 19-25 in Rome,

Italy.

“We are all set and ready to engage the NDF in the discussion of all substantive agenda

including supplemental agreements needed to proceed and arrive at a peaceful negotiated

political settlement to end the armed conflict in the country,” Bello said.

The government panel will pay a courtesy call to the president in Malacañang before leaving

tonight.

Among the documents to be submitted to the president are draft agreements and principles for

the comprehensive agreement on socio-economic reforms (CASER), comprehensive agreement

on political and constitutional reforms, and comprehensive agreement on end of hostilities and

disposition of forces.

“We are doing this in the spirit of true reconciliation and genuine quest for just and lasting

peace,” Bello explained.

Bello said he is confident major breakthroughs will again be achieved in the Rome talks.

“We are prepared to sign side and other agreements while we are discussing contents and

provisions of the major substantive agenda,” the chief government negotiator added.

Bello, who is also labor secretary, explained that government is all set to sign a supplemental

agreement on the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights and International

Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) which will include an expanded role of the a Joint Monitoring

Committee.

“And we are challenging the NDF to formalize the unilateral ceasefire with a bilateral ceasefire

agreement to give our communities and combatants a more secure environment for the peace

process,” Bello added.

The main group of government (GRP) delegation leaves for Rome tomorrow, January 17, for the

opening the following Thursday.

Peace negotiations with the NDF were resumed in August 2016 after more than 5 years of

impasse following the election of President Duterte.

In the August round when the negotiations were reopened, both panels agreed to reaffirm all

previous signed agreements and reconstitution of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity

Guarantees (JASIG) and release of NDF leaders and members.

In the second round also in Oslo, Norway, negotiators exchanges outlines and agreed to

accelerate the negotiations.

The government is confident it can strike a peace deal with the communist-led NDF, which

counts among its member organization the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the

New People’s Army (NPA).(PR/posted by Becky D. de Asis-The Redline News Philippines)