CHIEF negotiator Silvestre Bello III said Monday the government is ready for the third round of peace negotiations with communist rebels, which resumes on Jan. 19 in Rome, Italy.
Bello said he was set to submit to President Rodrigo Duterte the draft documents that will be tabled for discussion during the third round of talks with the National Democratic Front.
“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 was also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Duterte in Malacañang Monday night.
Among the documents to be submitted to the President are draft agreements and principles for the comprehensive agreement on socio economic reforms, comprehensive agreement on political and constitutional reforms, and comprehensive agreement on the 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 said. He added that he is confident that major breakthroughs will be achieved in the Rome talks.
“We are prepared to sign side and other agreements while we are discussing the contents and provisions of the major substantive agenda,” the chief government negotiator added.
Bello, who is also labor secretary, said the government is all set to sign a supplemental agreement on the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law which will include an expanded role of 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 government delegation was set to leave for Rome Jan. 17, for the opening of the third round on Thursday.
Peace negotiations with the NDF were resumed in August 2016 after more than five 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 to reconstitute the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees and release of NDF leaders and members.
In the second round also in Oslo, Norway, negotiators exchanged 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 and the New People’s Army.
On Monday, the non-government group Kapayapaan Campaign for a Just and Lasting Peace said stumbling blocks remain in the upcoming peace talks, including the government’s failure to release political prisoners. With Florante S. Solmerin