MANILA – Malacañang confirmed on Thursday the government’s decision to suspend for three months all backchannel talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF).
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the suspension was to give way for a review of all signed agreements related to the peace negotiations between the government and NDF.
“The three-month suspension of backchannel talks is not a setback to peace talks,” Roque said in a media briefing. “Resumption of the talks could happen sooner depending on review of agreements.”
Hernani Braganza, the government negotiator for backchannel talks, said in a statement on Thursday that they have conveyed to NDF leaders the suspension in a meeting held at Utrecht, Netherlands.
“The government team also conveyed the Philippine government’s decision to suspend all backchannel talks with the NDF pending the three-month review of all signed agreements related to the peace negotiations,” Braganza said.
Braganza added that the NDF representatives have expressed willingness to keep an open mind on the President’s decision and wait for the outcome of the government’s review before proceeding with any peace conversation with government.
“They reiterated their commitment to all signed agreements, including those involving the planned visit of Professor Jose Ma. Sison in the Philippines to Manila for a meeting with the President,” Braganza said./PN
