NDFP Amenable to Special Ceremony in June

Prof. Jose Ma. Sison
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
Chief Political Consultant
May 31, 1998

The National Democratic Front (NDFP) is amenable to the holding of a special ceremony as soon as possible in June to exchange formally with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) their respective declarations of approval of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

To expedite basic agreements between the NDFP and the GRP on the special ceremony, NDFP negotiating panel member Fidel V. Agcaoili has been authorized to contact GRP negotiating panel member Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello III immediately.

An adhoc committee headed by NDFP negotiating panel chairperson, Luis Jalandoni who is in the Philippines, is now poised to consult with Executive Secretary Alexander Aguirre on the necessary preparations and coordination for the special ceremony.

The adhoc committee is also ready to provide President Fidel V. Ramos, through Executive Secretary Aguirre and GRP negotiating panel chairperson Ambassador Howard Dee, with an advance copy of the NDFP declaration of approval earlier executed by the NDFP in April.

I thank President Ramos for publicly expressing the wish that I co-witness with him the exchange of approvals and I hope that the declarations of approvals to be exchanged shall similarly be in toto and unconditional.

The Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law is a document that is greatly beneficial to the people and that is therefore historically significant.

It is a document that the NDFP and the GRP can be mutually proud of. It is the result of hard work to make the first major substantive measure towards a just and lasting peace.

I hope that the highest officials of the GRP, including the incoming president Joseph Estrada and his chief electoral opponent Speaker Jose de Venecia, and the highest available officials of the NDFP shall attend the special ceremony.

I also hope that a significant number of political prisoners shall be released and shall be present to share the happy event.

The NDFP shall keep its word to declare an unprecedented thirty-day ceasefire, starting from the date of the special ceremony in order to celebrate the historic event and to promote nationwide consultations by the NDFP.

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