NDF negotiator Jalandoni’s arrival boosts peace prospects

National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni arrived in the country early Saturday, boosting prospects of fruitful peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the communist-led insurgency set to resume in February next year. Jalandoni arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Hong Kong with his wife, NDFP peace panel member Ma. Consuelo Ledesma, according to a GMA News Flash report. Jalandoni and Ledesma arrived aboard Cathay Pacific flight 901, and upon deplaning were immediately escorted by human rights lawyers and NDFP legal consultants Edre Olalia and Rachel Pastores, along with immigration officials and a representative of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), according to a separate report over dzRH radio.
Jalandoni’s arrival came a day after the government peace panel and the NDFP both announced holding exploratory talks in Hong Kong, where both groups agreed on an 18-day ceasefire for the Christmas and New Year holidays beginning on Dec. 16 and ending on Jan. 3, 2011. (See: GRP, NDF to resume talks in February) Both parties likewise agreed on the resumption of formal peace talks in February next year. The dzRH report quoted Jalandoni as saying he is on a "private visit" to the Philippines, and that he will stay for two weeks. Longest ceasefire in a decade Meanwhile, Malacañang reminded the communist-led New People’s Army (NPA) not to use the 18-day ceasefire to recruit new members and to stockpile firearms. (See: Palace tells CPP: Don’t use truce to recruit new members) Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte on Saturday said both sides had agreed to undertake goodwill measures in good faith, and the truce should not be exploited for purposes other than peace. “We hope the ceasefire will not be used for any purpose other than what was agreed upon," Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles, who explained that the 18-day ceasefire was unilateral on both sides, likewise said she hopes that both sides will monitor its implementation. Chief government negotiator Alexander Padilla earlier said that if the 18-day suspension of military operations pushes through, it will be the longest ceasefire to be observed by both parties in the last 10 years. The long ceasefire sets an optimistic tone to the forthcoming formal talks, which are scheduled to resume in February—likewise the first after more than six years since the NDF and the Philippine government suspended peace negotiations in 2004. In a press statement posted on the Philippine Revolution Web Central, Jalandoni said the dates have been tentatively set for January 14 to 18 for the informal meeting and from February 19 to 25 for the formal talks. Both sets of talks will be held in Oslo. The Norwegian government has been brokering the talks for a political settlement of one of Asia's longest-running insurgencies. Hold departure vs Jalandoni lifted In the same statement, the NDFP acknowledged that the government has lifted the Hold Departure Order (HDO) against Jalandoni, which was issued on June 29, 1992, with Padilla giving the NDF negotiator a copy of the HDO. The release likewise noted that Padilla had assured Jalandoni that the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) remains effective since the Philippine government lifted its suspension on July 17, 2009. Under JASIG protection, NDFP negotiators such as Jalandoni should be able to safely enter and leave the Philippines. Jalandoni also reiterated the rebel movement’s continuing demands, including the release of the “Morong 43" health workers and other political prisoners and NDFP consultants, and the withdrawal of what he described as “false charges" against the NDFP panelists and consultants. He clarified that the NDF sees these not as preconditions, but as “goodwill and confidence-building measures" for the resumption of the peace talks. Padilla is confident For his part, Padilla expressed confidence that next year’s resumption of peace negotiations will be more successful than earlier efforts. “As you can imagine, there is a lot of work to be done in the next three months. Government, upon instruction of the President, shall aggressively pursue the path to peace and towards a just and honorable settlement of conflicts," Padilla said in a separate release by the OPAPP.—With Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV