The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) expressed intent to engage in discussions with Vice Pres. Leni Robredo as the constitutional successor of Rodrigo Duterte to press for the resumption of peace negotiations in case he gets ousted or forced to resign.

“This can serve as a rallying point in the effort to oust Duterte,” said Juliet de Lima, interim chairperson of the NDFP panel.

“Prospects for resuming the peace negotiations after Duterte, whether he is ousted or he finishes his term, are possible and desirable,” pointed out Ka Julie. “It would be wise for his presidential successor to fulfill the outstanding demand of the NDFP for reaffirming all the signed agreements reached under previous administrations, the amnesty and release of all political prisoners and through the peace negotiations aim for national reconciliation, peace and unity, which can lead to a coalition government to implement the agreements made on social, economic and political reforms and ending the conflict; and settling the disposition of both armed force made in the peace negotiations.”

Should the negotiations between the NDFP and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines be resumed during the pandemic, the panels can immediately resume to tackle the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) to finalize this and have it approved.

“When negotiations are resumed, we can elaborate on the issue based on a summing up of experience and learning lessons from both sides as well as from the positive and negative practices of foreign countries and international agencies in responding and confronting this particular pandemic as well as other pandemics,” she said.

Both panels have earlier agreed to implement the said agreement once the section on Agra­ri­an Reform and Ru­ral Deve­lop­ment at Na­tio­nal Industria­liza­ti­on gets approved.