The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) is willing to
wait out the three years left in President Benigno Aquino III’s term
before it will fully commit to “real” peace talks.
In an interview with Liberation International posted online, NDFP
chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni blamed the government for the impasse in
the peace talks.
“If [the government is still open], it wishes that the demands of peace advocates be respected and complied with,” he said.
If the government refuses, then “the NDFP will continue with its
revolutionary struggle throughout the country and is willing to wait out
the three years left of the Aquino regime,” he said.
Malacanang earlier blamed the communists for stalling the peace talks
in insisting the release of detainees covered by the joint agreement on
safety and immunity guarantees (JASIG).
Jalandoni, however, said “the Aquino government has embarked on
vitriolic attacks on the NDFP,” stressing that the ball is in the court
of the government, which should “respect bilateral agreements that have
been signed before.”
He accused the government of continuing to use the Oplan Bayanihan –
the counterinsurgency program – and "denying addressing the roots [of
the problem].”
But Jalandoni believes the fervor for struggle remains among Filipinos, especially among the youth, pointing out that the resistance in Europe – led by the youth – “will have strong resonance in the Philippines [with the youth] having a big involvement in revolutionary struggle.”
