Gov’t-NDF peace panel buckle down to workOSLO, NORWAY– Negotiators from the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) on Tuesday buckled down to work and held successive meetings, both in panel and committee levels, as part of a shared commitment to forge a final peace agreement within six to 12 months. (Rocky Nazareno / mb.com.ph)The peace negotiators got down to the brass tacks a day after holding an opening ceremony that marked the formal resumption of peace talks currently being held at the Scandic Holmenkollen Park Hotel in Oslo, Norway. Labor Secretary Silvestre “Bebot” H. Bello III, concurrent chair of the government peace panel, explained that both parties agreed to hold meetings in panel and committee levels to accelerate the process of discussion on substantive issues related to the talks. Both parties have resumed the stalled peace negotiations and are now committed to explore all avenues possible to fast-track the process,” he added. Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Jesus G. Dureza, for his part, noted that the government panel has been instructed to accelerate the peace negotiations in compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s commitment to bring a definitive and final peace settlement within six to 12 months.

Source: Manila Bulletin August 23, 2016 08:03 UTC