After a week of intense bargaining, the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) agreed to complete their peace negotiations in 18 months. Both sides agreed to complete the draft comprehensive agreements on the remaining items of the agenda, in a joint statement following talks in Oslo, Norway. According to a news release posted on the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process website:
the draft Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) may be completed and signed by the Panels in September 2011; the draft Comprehensive Agreement on Political and Constitutional Reforms (CAPCR) may be completed and signed by the Panels in February 2012, and the draft Comprehensive Agreement on End of Hostilities and Disposition of Forces (CAEHDF) may be completed and signed by the Panels in June 2012. Both panels have also reactivated the Reciprocal Working Committees (RWCs) on social and economic reforms. The RWCs will conduct three bilateral meetings in the second week of June and the second and fourth weeks of August 2011. On the CAPCR, both sides agreed to form their respective working groups, which will hold their initial session in April 2011 and every two months thereafter. The government NDF panels reconvened the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). Related matters such as a process for consolidating HR and IHL complaints and possible conduct of joint investigations were likewise discussed. Ceasefires The government-NDF ceasefire agreement ended at 11:59 p.m. Monday but both parties are open to declaring another break in fighting in the future. “We are hoping for future ceasefires but that would be under negotiation with the NDF," Padilla said. However, NDF panel chairman Luis Jalandoni said the possibility of having another ceasefire would depend on the reports of their rebel armed forces. “That would be under study and evaluation but we will be getting the reports of the revolutionary forces on the ground and get the recommendations of our principals," he said. Apart from the unilateral ceasefires undertaken for the duration of the peace talks, both sides released prisoners as a measure of goodwill. Government chief negotiator Alexander Padilla, in his closing statement, said the ceasefire is “one of several confidence-building measures that facilitated the participation of NDFP consultants Raffy Baylosis, Beth Principe and Randy Echanis in our talks." “On the other hand, the NPA (New People’s Army) has released a former soldier and two policemen, namely, retired Army Sgt. Mario Veluz, PO3 Jorge Sabatin and PO3 Jervel Tugade, all from Mindanao," Padilla said. ‘Roller coaster ride’ Padilla and Jalandoni admitted how arduous the formal talks had been. “Tonight concludes a week of hard bargaining between our two panels, GPH and NDF, and up to the last minute, literally, we were not sure whether we could come to terms enough to move the peace process to another round," Padilla said. Jalandoni agreed, saying it has been "a roller-coaster ride all the way." "Until a few moments ago, no one was quite sure whether the talks will end up on a high or low point, or with milestones once more. Such is the nature of negotiations," he said. Padilla, however, said “commonalities have propelled the process forward." “But having spent this week breaking bread, arguing over grammar and syntax, periods and paragraphs, singing karaoke together, we know that comrades in arms can make the best comrades in peace, that is, if they so wish and they so will," he said. Jalandoni added the two parties’ joint communiqué is “an eloquent proof of what the two panels can achieve." “We are drawn to common aspirations and principles in order to overcome inherent contradictions and contrasting perspectives," he said. Both panels thanked the Royal Norwegian Government (RNG) for its “able facilitation, hospitality and continuing support for the GPH-NDF peace negotiations." Norway has been acting as Third Party Facilitator for the talks since 2001. Also in attendance at the press conference were RNG Third Party Facilitation Team led by Ambassador Ture Lundh; NDF chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison; other members of the negotiating panels and the independent observers. – VVP, GMA News 
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