‘Peace talks not yet on the table’

It is not the stalled peace talks that will be resumed when the government announced a possible engagement with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic.

Front of the Philippines, Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. clarified Wednesday.

Galvez said the reference to the Oslo Joint Communique between the government and the NDFP came from exploratory ideas.

"The basis of our statement came from the exploratory, and we would like to clarify the terms and conditions for the formal peace process. We haven't discussed it yet, but that is among the consensus we would like to create in the future," said Galvez in a media interview on the sidelines of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Leadership Summit in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

He said peace negotiations were not yet on the table, and the parties were considering having direct engagements.

"This is not a resumption of the talks nor a restart. A future peace engagement is a fresh start of the peace negotiations," said Galvez, noting that mutual respect will prevail should fresh negotiations between the government and the communists push through.

Headline was incorrect

In a separate interview, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. emphasized that no peace negotiations are underway but noted that the government is open to preliminary talks.

"Well, any good faith effort for preliminary talks, I mean, the government naturally is open to preliminary talks. And the important thing is that we are not constrained in our law enforcement operations against the CPP-NPA-NDF," Teodoro said.

The defense chief acknowledged the people's reaction to the government's announcement of possible peace talks with the communists.

"The headline that came out on peace talks is not the correct situation. These are exploratory talks, there are no formal peace talks yet, and so the people who are reacting are jumping the line," Teodoro said.

"What is clear here is that the AFP will continue the law enforcement operations," he added.

Ops vs rebels continue

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines assured that it would continue its ongoing military operations against the remaining communist insurgents amid the exploratory talks being considered.

AFP Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr. made the assurance following the government's announcement of a possible engagement with the CPP's political wing, the NDFP.

"As far as the AFP is concerned, we will continue with our mission, and we will continue with our focused military operations. So, this will continue for the commanders who are here and for those who are joining online," said Brawner at the AFP Leadership Summit.

He said the continuation of military operations against CPP-NDPF's armed wing, the New People's Army, was a direct guideline from President Marcos.