MANILA – Government peace negotiators may have an “informal” meeting with Fidel Agcaoili and Luis Jalandoni of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in Manila next week.
“President (Rodrigo) Duterte has tasked me and Secretary Salvador Panelo (presidential spokesman) to meet with them in an informal chat,” Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said in a statement released Sunday.
“I am now on my way to head the Philippine delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, so the planned meeting may take place upon my return next week,” he added.
Duterte previously said he may possibly meet with Agcaoili and Jalandoni after the NDFP leaders expressed intent to do so.
“Agcaoili and Jalandoni, I will not keep it a secret, I do not want confidential-confidential, pupunta dito sabi nila gusto nila ako kausapin,” said the President.
The two NDFP leaders were set to visit the Philippines this month as members of the joint monitoring committee under the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.
They were also scheduled to meet with Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Bjørn Jahnsen this month.
Earlier the Department of National Defense said it supports the possible meeting between the government and the NDFP negotiators.
“Any effort that will achieve peace, we are always open [to it], and we defer to the wisdom the President,” Defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong said.
Duterte terminated peace negotiations with the NDFP, the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines, on Nov. 23 last year – just two days before the fifth round of formal talks in Oslo, Norway was scheduled to resume. (GMA News)
