August 11, 2009 - The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) did not only postpone the resumption of peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) but also with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Secretary Avelino Razon of the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process (OPAPP) told reporters that peace talks with the NDF will resume in Oslo, Norway in October instead of this month as originally set.


“Now, it looks more clear that it will push through. We have a schedule. The last week of October …” he said, without stating the reason for the postponement.

Meanwhile, a source in the MILF Peace Panel disclosed that government and MILF peace negotiators are set to meet yesterday, August 10, in Kuala Lumpur but the government asked for postponement, citing the need to attend to former President Corazon Aquino’s wake as reason.

Asked to comment on this, the MILF source merely said, “Let us take the words of the government for it.”

The formal resumption of the GRP-MILF Peace Talks is set to the third week of this month with two issues top in their agenda: Formation of the International Contract Group and setting up of a mission that will protect non-combatants from harm’s way.

The two parties would also discuss the possible return of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG). But decision on their return is still hazy as this will require the concurrence of contributing countries.

Razon also disclosed that Luis Jalandoni, chief negotiator for the NDFP had been allowed to enter the country from exile. But this was just to visit his ailing sister.

“After a week, he will go back to The Netherlands,” Razon said.

But an independent source told Maradika that Jalandoni is already out of the country.  

Norway hosted the GRP-NDFP negotiations until they were suspended four years ago. Along with Jalandoni, many of the NDFP’s top leaders live in exile in The Netherlands.