MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) strongly supports all initiatives that will lead to a genuine and lasting peace.
This was stressed by AFP public affairs office chief, Col. Noel Detoyato, when sought for a comment on the possible meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and peace negotiators of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) sometime this month.
"The supports peace initiatives and dialogues. We are always thinking positively that peace initiatives will result to favorable conditions towards peace that will benefit the peace-loving Filipinos," Detoyato said in a message to reporters Monday.
"(And) while your AFP is always prepared for war, we are also prepared for peace," Detoyato stressed.
Earlier, NDFP negotiating panel chair Fidel V. Agcaoili said he and Coni Ledesma have a scheduled a trip to the Philippines this month, in connection with their work as members of the NDFP component in the Joint Monitoring Committee under the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).
"We will be accompanied by Mr. Luis Jalandoni as Senior Adviser to the NDFP Negotiating Panel," he added.
Agcaoili said they have also been invited to meet with the new Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines.
"In this regard, we welcome the the opportunity to meet with the President unless he does not want to or his military is against it," he added. (PNA)
