Opening of the 4th round of the GRP-NDFP peace talks NOORDWIJK, THE NETHERLANDS

03 April 2017 Opening of the 4th round of the GRP-NDFP peace talks NOORDWIJK, THE NETHERLANDS — Panelists from the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the communist National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) formally agreed to commence the 4th round of peace talks today, April 3, 2017. The opening of peace talks between the GRP and NDFP should have started last Sunday. However, due to a phone call from President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday who gave instructions to the GRP panel members, the formal opening was delayed for a day as the President wanted to have a bilateral ceasefire agreement between the two parties before the peace negotiations continue. After marathon of informal talks between the panel members, the formal opening of the 4th round of peace talks between the two panels finally pushed through past 10:00 a.m. (4:00 PM in PST time) Monday, April 3, here in Radisson Blu Palace Hotel. On this round of talks, the GRP and NDF panel will continue discussing the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER) as well as the implementation of Cahrihl, and release of political prisoners.