The Communist Party of the Philippines, along with its political arm the National Democratic Front and its armed wing the New People’s Army, agreed with the Marcos administration to explore the possibility of negotiating a deal that would end the world’s longest-running insurgency.
Six administrations have tried but failed to broker an end to the communist insurgency, which has claimed around 50,000 lives and hobbled investment and development in the countryside.
A joint statement, issued in Oslo by special presidential assistant Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo and NDF national executive council member Luis Jalandoni, said the government and the communist rebels agreed “to come up with a framework that sets the priorities for the peace negotiation with the aim of achieving the relevant socioeconomic and political reforms towards a just and lasting peace.”
“Such framework, that will set the parameters for the final peace agreement, shall be agreed upon by both parties,” the signed agreement said.
It said the peace deal should result in a “principled and peaceful resolution to the armed-conflict” that started during the administration the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., father of the current president.
No deadlines were set in when peace talks would begin or wether a ceasefire will be initiated.
