National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) negotiating panel Fidel Agcaoili gestures during a press conference in Manila on June 2, 2016. Jose Maria Sison, the exiled founder of the Philippines' deadly communist rebellion, said on June 2 he expects to end nearly 30 years of European exile and return to Manila as early as next month. Netherlands-based Sison also told Manila reporters at a news conference by Skype Filipino government and rebel emissaries were to meet in Norway from mid-June to lay the groundwork for formal peace talks. / AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS The government suspended yesterday backchannel talks with communist groups while undertaking a three-month review of agreements it signed with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), effectively cutting all lines of communication between both parties.

President Duterte had earlier ordered the rescheduling of the June 28 restart of the peace negotiations, saying he wanted to consult the public on the agreements with communist rebels.

Mr. Duterte’s decision came after defense and military officials expressed concerns the rebels might use the talks to consolidate forces.

In a statement, Hernani Braganza, a member of the government peace panel, said the government had informed the NDFP of the suspension of the informal negotiations during a meeting in The Netherlands.

Braganza added the suspension of all dialogues does not preclude communications between the two parties “if deemed necessary.”

“At a meeting with NDF leaders headed by chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili and attended by chief political consultant Jose Ma. Sison, the government team also conveyed the decision to suspend all backchannel talks with the NDF pending the three-month review of all signed agreements related to the peace negotiations,” Braganza said.

Disagreement between Mr. Duterte and Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Maria Sison remains a major obstacle to the restart of negotiations.

Sison wanted the talks to be held in a neutral place as he offered Oslo, Norway or Vietnam as venue, while Mr. Duterte said he would not allow any negotiations, except in the Philippines.

The CPP, in a statement, said by insisting to hold the peace negotiations in Manila, Duterte is putting forward a demand it knows is totally unacceptable to the revolutionary forces.

“It is like the NDFP is insisting that peace talks be held in the territories under the political authority of the revolutionary forces, something that Duterte will definitely not accept,” it said.

It said, in the demand to hold the talks in the Philippines, Duterte is practically scrapping The Hague Declaration of 1992 and, by consequence, the entire peace negotiations themselves.

“He also wants to trash all the past efforts of the Royal Norwegian Government as third-party facilitator,” it added.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) recommended a three-month suspension of the talks to review the “stand-down” agreement the government signed with the NDFP that was supposed to start yesterday.

During the meeting, Braganza said the NDFP representatives expressed a willingness to keep an open mind on the President’s decision and wait for the outcome of the government’s review before proceeding with any peace negotiations.

“They reiterated their commitment to all signed agreements, including those involving the planned visit of Prof. Jose Ma. Sison to Manila for a meeting with the President,” Braganza said.

“In turn, we extended the government panel’s appreciation to the NDF’s open-mindedness in coming to terms with President Duterte’s decision,” he added.

Braganza said the Utrecht meeting was witnessed by third-party facilitators from the Royal Norwegian Government led by Special Envoy for Peace Idun Tvedt.

He said the government panel extended its appreciation to the Royal Norwegian Government for its continuing support to the peace process.

The government team, Braganza said, also relayed to the NDFP the decision of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza to use the three-month review period for consultations.

“The NDFP leaders, for their part, expressed intention to conduct their own separate actions and activities that aim to protect the gains already achieved as a result of backchannel, informal and formal talks between the two panels,” Braganza said.

The Department of National Defense (DND) said it sees nothing wrong with the stand-down agreement.

Anything that will bring about legitimate and lasting peace is welcome, DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said.

Andolong added the NPA should also provide the government the locations of their forces as the whereabouts of the military is generally well-known.