MANILA – Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Jr. backtracked on his statement that a third-party facilitator was no longer needed in the peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza had said Norway remains a third-party facilitator in the peace talks.
“Norway can continue to help the Philippines as a third-party facilitator of the peace talks,” said Roque.
“Quoting from the transcript, I said, ‘Pero you know any party who wants to help any and who’s been involved in the process can help, ’no. Pero ang punto lang ni Presidente e hindi niya na maintindihan kung bakit kinakailangan pa sa ibang bansa ’no ang pag-uusap,’” he added.
Any peace negotiation that the government and the communist rebels would enter into should be held in the country, Roque stressed. “I was referring to the venue.”
Dureza, who left the country for Europe on Sunday to attend a forum with other top global peace negotiators, criticized a media report saying Norway was no longer a facilitator in the talks. “It is an example of irresponsible journalism.”
He said, “In fact, I am now in Oslo, Norway to attend an International Forum on Conflict Mediation and to express our country’s gratitude for Norway’s significant and continuing support to the long-drawn peace negotiations with the Left.
“I am also here to explain to them the reason why the planned resumption of the peace talks discussed during backchannel meetings was reset.”/PN
