For a comprehensive peace agreement, both the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) should adopt a framework rooted in human rights, socio economic reforms, and political reforms, the Council of Leaders for Peace Initiatives (CLPI) said.
According to CPLl lead convenor lawyer Tony La Vina, their group underscored the importance of continuing efforts to secure a principled and peaceful resolution to the decades-long armed conflict in the Philippines.
In a statement issued on Nov. 23, 2022 during the peace talks in Oslo, Norway between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), both sides expressed optimism for a sustainable peace rooted in addressing the legitimate socioeconomic and political grievances at the heart of the conflict.
La Vina said the statement was crucial as it represented the formal reopening of peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the NDFP, following the abrupt termination of peace talks during the Duterte administration in 2017.
“It was supposed to be the restart of the peace process after Duterte ended it. This is a critical time whether we should go to the road to peace or war.” La Vina told Manila Standard.
