GRP, NDF forge agreements

Oslo, Norway — The peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the communist rebel leadership advanced to heights never before reached in over 40 previous meetings in the last three decades, forging pivotal agreements on socio-economic reforms (SER), political and constitutional reforms (PCR), and end of hostilities-disposition of forces (EOH-DOF) ahead of the formal closing of the discussions here, Sunday. Emerging from marathon sessions, the two panels’ Reciprocal Working Committee (RWC) and Reciprocal Working Groups (RWGs) completed the common frameworks and outlines for the three substantive issues that will form the backbone of a peace deal that both sides have envisioned to reach by the end of President Duterte’s first year in office. These committee and group reports were to be submitted to the GRP and NDF panels early Sunday for review. Their approval and the issuance of a subsequent joint statement from the two panels were expected later in [...]