NDF refutes Palace claim on botched peace efforts

DAVAO CITY – The National Democratic Front of the Philippines ( NDFP) on Wednesday slammed the recent statement of Palace spokesperson Edwin Lacierda who accused the group of refusing to go back to the negotiating table.

Lacierda issued the statement after six police officers were killed following an ambush staged by members of the New People’s Army in Baggao, Cagayan the other day.

In a statement, NDFP’s chairperson Luis Jalandoni said Lacierda should first check his facts before pronouncing such false statement of branding the NDFP of refusing to go back to peace negotiations.

“In October, December 2015 and February 2016, the NDFP Negotiating Panel received a delegation from the Aquino regime which was led by former DAR Secretary, Hernani Braganza, close associate of then DILG Secretary Mar Roxas,” Jalandoni said.

He added that on December 8, 2015, a Draft Peace Agreement was signed by both sides, authenticated by Royal Norwegian Government Special Envoy, Ms. Elisabeth Slattum, proposing truce and cooperation within the term of the Aquino government.

“On February 18, 19 and 20, 2016, the team of Mr. Braganza returned and a proposal for truce and cooperation was drafted by both sides to be presented to the Aquino regime, then beleaguered with the Mamasapano fiasco.”

Jalandoni pointed out that the efforts were rebuffed and set aside by Secretary Teresita Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

“The Braganza team was disauthorized,” Jalandoni claimed, adding that the combined peace initiatives of the Braganza team, the NDFP Negotiating Panel and the Royal Norwegian Government Special Envoy thus have come to naught.

“The responsibility lies squarely on Secretary Deles and President Aquino,” he said.

The government and the NDFP have been into peace negotiations for years but the efforts to put an end to the on- going armed conflicts in the countryside, in vain.