ANC NEWS NOW
18 October 2012

MANILA, Philippines – When President Aquino took office in 2010, he vowed to end all insurgencies before his six-year term ends.

Now days after signing a framework agreement with Muslim rebels, the President is hoping to revive the peace talks with communist guerrillas.

“Well, the other day I was told that they are renewing the dialogue with us. Am I as optimistic? I tend to be pessimistic in preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. But there is some reason to believe we are moving forward in terms of the dialogue and the efforts we try to achieve with the CPP-NPA,” he told the FOCAP.

Though optimistic, the President couldn’t give a fixed timeline on the negotiations with the CPP-NPA-NDF.

The talks were suspended in November last year when the rebels demanded that their jailed comrades be freed.

Communist leader Jose Maria Sison told ANC the talks have been difficult but there have been positive developments.

“I think the Aquino government should show seriousness and sincerity in the talks by releasing those NDF consultants that are now in prison, and it must show a willingness to release the close to 400 political prisoners who are unjustly imprisoned,” he said.