Agreement Remains Elusive in Talks Between Aquino, Communists

Members of Communist Party of the Philippines - Marxist-Leninist-Maoist (CPP_MLM) greeted protesters during the commemoration of the 150th year birthday of the revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio. (Neil Viajero)

While expressing readiness to resume the peace talks, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles said that the resumption of the peace talks should be on the basis of “doable and time-bound agenda.” 

CPP founding Chairman Jose Ma. Sison said the government and the CPP may return to the negotiating table on the second week of January after the visit of Pope Francis.
Sison noted that a comprehensive agreement on economic reforms, truce and cooperation could still be accomplished before Aquino finishes his term should the government and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) be fair in the negotiation. 

But Deles said that while “friends of the peace process have been shuttling between the two panels to explore possible parameters for restarting talks at the earliest time possible,” there have been “no meetings between the government and the NDF to discuss the possible resumption of talks.” 

“So far, feedback has been positive but there remain matters to be clarified in order to ensure that, if ever we do resume talks, it will not go the same way of an early, major impasse that has happened too often in the past,” she added.

(Phillippine Star)