NEWS
GPH hopes to work with NDF, not against them
Manila, Mar. 8 – While prospects for a peace deal with the National Democratic Front (NDF) are high, the Government of the Philippines (GPH) is looking forward to working with the communist group in achieving reforms for the country.
“We’d rather work with the NDF than against them. It has visions. We’d like to work with these people openly to attain national objectives,” GPH chief negotiator Alexander Padilla stated during a peace and security forum held last Thursday at the…
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GPH reports end of first round of formal talks with NDF
Manila, Feb. 23 – After five days of negotiations and a news blackout, the Government of the Philippines (GPH) faced the Philippine media yesterday to report on the conclusion of the first round of formal peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF).
In a statement read live and beamed from Norway, government negotiating panel head Alex Padilla reported that “prospects for peace have become better”. He detailed the important developments that the Oslo talks have achieved, most notable of which is the consensus on the proposed 18-month timeframe for the completion of agreements on the remaining…
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GPH, NDF agree on 18-month timeframe for peace talks
Manila, Feb. 22 – After a full week of hard bargaining on the negotiating table, the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) today successfully concluded their first round of formal talks after a six-year impasse, with an agreement to complete the peace talks in 18 months.
In a joint statement released during a press conference in Oslo, Norway, the panels agreed to complete the draft comprehensive agreements on the remaining items of the agenda, such as the socio-economic reforms, political-constitutional reforms, and end of hostilities and disposition of forces…
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Statement of Gov’t Panel Chair Alexander Padilla eE GPH-CPP/NPA/NDF Peace Talks
Last night, the Philippine Government and the National Democratic Front concluded the first round of the resumed formal peace negotiations. It was the first formal meeting of the Panels since the talks were discontinued in 2004. We met to try and find a common political solution to the armed conflict and put an end to four decades of senseless killings in our country.
Our meetings were difficult and at times faced what would seem to be insurmountable challenges. The talks, however, were frank, candid and held in the spirit of goodwill characterized by respect for one another’s position. After six full days of discussion…
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VIDEOS: Joint GPH-CPP/NPA/NDF Press Conference
Watch video footages from the closing ceremony and joint GPH-CPP/NPA/NDF press conference in Oslo, Norway….
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We, the Negotiating Panels of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) successfully resumed the formal peace negotiations from 15 to 21 February 2011 in Oslo, Norway facilitated by the Royal Norwegian Government (RNG).
The formal meetings were opened with an introductory statement by Ambassador Ture Lundh, as head of the Third Party Facilitating Team, and a welcome statement by State Secretary Espen Barth Eide of the Royal Norwegian Government followed by the opening statements by Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles, the GPH Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, and the…
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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.
Perhaps the process is weighed down too much by the pain and baggage of the past that will clearly take many more rounds of negotiations to overcome.
The GPH panel is committed to stay the course of peace. The goal of a just and enduring peace has compelled us to come to the table; and to stay at the table.
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GPH reiterates hope to settle conflict with NDF
Manila, Feb. 18 – Government chief negotiator Alexander Padilla on Tuesday said they are looking forward to settling the armed conflict with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) fast so they can work together as partners in finding solutions to the problems the country has been facing.
“We are again emphasizing that we hope to do this as fast as we could so they can help us as partners in trying to solve the problems,” he stated during an informal interview with the media at the opening of the week-long formal talks between the…
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Civil society group calls for sincere, transparent peace talks
Manila, Feb. 16 – Quezon City resounded with the call for sincerity and transparency in the ongoing peace talks between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) in Norway, as a civil society movement on Tuesday marched the busy Elliptical Road from Philcoa to QC Memorial Circle, armed with bells, gongs and banners.
Called the “Manindigan para sa Peace Talks” (Stand Up for Peace Talks), the civil society group is composed of peace advocates, non-government organizations, and people’s organizations, and was launched in time for the resumption of the GPH-NDF peace negotiations in…
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RNG lauds GPH, NDF on resumption of formal talks; urges both to remain committed
Manila, Feb. 16 – The Royal Norwegian Government (RNG) has lauded the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) for showing “courage” to continue their dialogue on the negotiating table and address substantial issues on the peace agenda.
The week-long formal talks, which opened on Tuesday in Oslo, Norway is being held under the auspices of the RNG, which has been facilitating the negotiations since…
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GPH, NDF agree to work on truce, release of detainees covered by JASIG
Manila, Jan. 19 – The Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) have agreed to work for a seven-day truce and the release of detained NDF consultants who are covered by security guarantees while formal peace talks have been set to resume next month._______________________________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF GPH Panel Chair Alexander Padilla on the Preliminary Negotiations held in Norway
Preliminary negotiations were held between the negotiating panels of the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), in Oslo, Norway, from 14-18 January 2011, under the facilitation of the Royal Norwegian Government, to prepare for the resumption of the formal peace negotiations next month which have been stalled since 2004.
During the just concluded preliminary negotiations, the government and the NDF Panels agreed to work for a ceasefire from February 15-21, 2011 to mark the resumption of the formal talks. The Government also agreed to work, on best effort basis, for the release of NDF consultants and personalities who…
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GPH-NDF JOINT COMMUNIQUE ON INFORMAL PEACE TALKS
Preliminary talks were held on January 14-18, 2011 in Oslo, Norway between the Government of the Philippines (GPH, formerly known as the GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Negotiating Panels with the facilitation of the Royall Norwegian Government (RNG) to pave the way for the resumption of the formal talks.
Atty. Alexander A. Padilla headed the GPH Panel and Mr. Luis G. Jalandoni headed the NDFP Panel in the preliminary talks. Ambassador Ture Lundh was also present as head of the RNG team….
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All is set for GPH-NDF informal talks
Manila, J
an. 6 – Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles said that everything is set for the resumption of the peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF) next week in Oslo, Norway.
In an interview over Bombo Radyo Philippines on Tuesday, Deles related that the Royal Norwegian Government, the third party facilitator for the talks since 2001, has notified them that logistical arrangements have been finalized.
“Naka-reserba na ang venue kaya wala nang pipigil dito (Venue has been reserved so nothing can stop this),” she added.
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