00:00 We are joined by the new Peace Talks of the government.
00:03 We will talk live with Dr. Froilan Calilung, Political Analyst and Director of the Local Government Development Institute.
00:11 Dr. Froilan, good afternoon, sir.
00:13 Good afternoon, good afternoon to all our viewers and listeners.
00:19 Thank you for joining us live, sir.
00:21 What is the importance of this joint communique on the resumption of the Peace Talks between the Philippine Government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines?
00:32 Well, this is very important because this actually symbolizes what we call exploratory talks between the government of the Philippines and the NDFP.
00:41 And I think this will lay down the initial steps towards the resumption.
00:45 Actually, it's not really a resumption, but a new beginning of the talks about the peace process.
00:53 And I think this is something that we really need right now, presumably because we have a bigger challenge ahead of us.
01:01 Our external territorial defense is there, especially on our problem in the West Philippine Sea.
01:09 So I think it's important that we end this insurgency once and for all that has been going on and raging for more than 50 years.
01:17 And in fact, this is one of the longest, if I'm not mistaken, not only in Asia, but in the whole world.
01:23 Professor, what can you say about the timing of this news?
01:28 Considering in 2017, we know that the former President Duterte said, "No more peace talks."
01:35 And then recently, we heard the Vice President say a very controversial statement.
01:40 And now we're here, and now we have the Speaker of the House saying, "It's not a political maneuver."
01:46 Well, we can't ignore the political angle, especially since we know that there's a conflict between the Vice President and the House Speaker.
01:55 But I think what we need to see here, we need to really not be deviated or not be derailed from what really is the intent and the purpose of the peace negotiation.
02:06 And that is really, again, to attain peace once and for all, so that this problem can be ended.
02:11 As for me, we know that Vice President Duterte really doesn't want these talks to continue.
02:24 And he really encouraged our President to think carefully, especially when it comes to giving amnesty.
02:29 But I think the President also has made several calculated risks and assumptions regarding what is really the best thing to do.
02:38 And I think the President right now, most likely, would like to put an end to this once and for all.
02:44 Because it's like a legacy call, right?
02:46 What I'm saying is like a legacy call, because the insurgency started when his father was still alive.
02:52 Now, he wants to end it.
02:56 And there should be a closure, right?
02:58 Not just the so-called all-out offensive that our military can do now, especially now that the enemies are really decapitated and decimated.
03:10 But what we really want to focus on here is to talk about what their real fight is.
03:18 What is their ideology?
03:20 What is their root of their Salobin?
03:26 This is what is important for us to discuss here in this Peace Talks.
03:30 Okay.
03:31 Because of this development, you said it's important.
03:35 But what do you see?
03:37 The relationship between the government and the NDFP now, how important is their joint communique now?
03:48 And showing their desire to start another Peace Talks.
03:54 Yes, this is very important, Nia.
03:56 Maybe we should talk about this first, sincerity and our so-called meaningful commitment towards the attainment of long-lasting peace.
04:05 Because we remember that there were many Peace Talks and negotiations in the past.
04:11 All of the administration, we have Peace Talks, but all of it ended up failure because the sincerity on both sides is really questionable.
04:21 Especially when we have Peace Talks and negotiations,
04:27 it is done as a chance for the rebels to strengthen, to rearm, to regroup, and then eventually they will come out stronger.
04:35 But right now, I believe that the government is in a better vantage point to actually take hold of this position because it is really weak.
04:43 I think, if I'm not mistaken, our members of their movement are only around 2,000.
04:50 And I can say that it is very successful, like the example of what NTF Elkac did,
04:57 the whole of nation approach to end the insurgency, I think really materialized.
05:01 So I think this is a very good time for once and for all to end this problem of insurgency in our country.
05:09 You mentioned, sir, that this strategy has been going on for a while.
05:15 This Peace Talks is not new.
05:18 So maybe from your perspective, what is the new thing that you're seeing that this time will have an effect, will be successful?
05:26 What do you see from your perspective, the factors that may influence the results of these Peace Talks?
05:35 Well, for one, we already know that the cadres of their movement,
05:42 some of them have already died, like the example of what Joe Masizo did last year.
05:46 And some of them are already old, so we can say that their ideological foundation is weak now.
05:54 Secondly, I think what we need to see here, and I think this came out from their first discussion,
06:00 that they want to transform into a political organization that is accepted in our mainstream political sphere, the NDF, the NDFP.
06:13 And I think if this will happen, we can say that they will have a political party that can unite and be united in the political activities of our government.
06:28 So in short, this resonates, I guess, well with the context and with the notion of unity that is being exposed by the government.
06:35 Because the government is now trying to lay down and reach out its hand, and this is for the peace of our country.
06:48 Sir, when it comes to economic development and investments in the country, what do you see as the positive effects of these Peace Talks?
06:58 Well, it will really boost investor confidence because we know that whenever we have problems,
07:06 especially when it comes to peace, order, security, and of course insurgency on the countryside,
07:11 it really dissuades or discourages foreign investors from actually coming into the country.
07:18 And we definitely need these FDIs in order to pump up the economy.
07:22 So I believe that these talks will bring back the confidence of the people who will invest their money and capital in our country.
07:33 And I believe that this will be an important opportunity for our countrymen, especially those who will return to the government.
07:45 Because we know that amnesty is just the first step towards going back to the fold of the government and bringing them back into the fold of the law.
07:55 Yes, Dr. Froilan, how important is the support of our legislature and our general public in our new Peace Talks?
08:05 Well, I think the position of the leader of the Camera regarding this is clear.
08:11 I think the speaker is very much supportive of the move of the President.
08:17 And I think it is also important that we see how our people will accept this.
08:23 I think what we need to divide here, and I think this interview is very relevant and timely,
08:32 is to tell our countrymen what we will really get from resolving this problem of insurgency that has been raging on for a very, very long time.
08:46 I think it's important at this point in time that we have healing, reconciliation, and finally, lasting and meaningful peace.
08:57 Because this is for us and for the next generations of Filipinos.
09:01 Alright. This granting of amnesty for the former rebels, what will be the impact of this on the comprehensive peace process?
09:12 Well, this is very important, Nina. Because if we look at it, the amnesty is being laid by our President
09:20 based on the executive orders and proclamations that he passed,
09:24 especially if this has something to do with their so-called political beliefs.
09:30 So, I believe this is important because it discusses the root of why they were really fighting in the first place.
09:39 And I think this amnesty is going to be very important because this is the initial step towards bringing them again in the fold of government
09:48 and eventually bringing them again into the social mainstream.
09:52 So, granting them the opportunity to find a way of life will only happen if they are granted amnesty.
10:01 And this is different if they are granted total amnesty or full amnesty, their political rights will be restored.
10:09 Meaning to say, they can now run for elected positions and we will see that they can also be a part of our government
10:20 in the pursuit of a new tomorrow for all of us.
10:23 Alright. Dr. Proelan, as a last question, sustainability of our peace talks is very important.
10:32 In your opinion, what should be the key to normalization or reintegration of our former rebels?
10:40 Well, number one, we should know and recognize the root of why they were fighting, why they are fighting,
10:48 and we should see how we can help them in their pursuit of change.
10:55 And we know that many of them are now returning to their former positions and some of them have good stories of change and reintegration.
11:04 So, I think this is something that we should amplify more.
11:08 We should show this, we should spread this so that their members will be encouraged to return to our government and help.
11:18 Because I believe this is the only way to go if you really want to heal and if you really want to have lasting and meaningful peace in the country.
11:26 Okay, I have one more question. We said that preconditions are prohibited.
11:32 Like for example, there are non-negotiable ones like the brand "terror attack", right?
11:38 What about the other ones like this, that should be black and white? This is not allowed?
11:48 Yes. That's right. I think that one thing that our government should negotiate here is to first make their hierarchy officials free.
12:00 And especially their political prisoners.
12:04 Because in the past, our government has already done this.
12:08 Meaning, we fulfilled our ends.
12:11 The problem is that when it comes to their end of their bargain, that's what we are lacking.
12:18 So, hopefully the government will finally understand that they lay down the cards, but more importantly is how we could abide by the rules.
12:28 And I think, as I mentioned earlier, the sincerity, the commitment towards making this possible needs to be clear.
12:38 And this is what we will lay down in the exploratory talks that we are doing now before the resumption of the actual panel-level peace talks.
12:49 Alright. Maraming salamat po sa inyong oras, Dr. Froilan Calilung, Political Analyst and Director of the Local Government Development Institute.
