By Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News
Posted at 02/21/2014 3:58 PM | Updated as of 02/21/2014 3:58 PM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/21/14/palace-clarify-sisons-offer-meet-pnoy

MANILA – Malacañang said it is keeping its options open in pursuing peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) while it clarifies with the Norwegian facilitator the “parameters” of Jose Maria Sison’s offer to meet with President Aquino.

In an interview with ABS-CBN Europe Bureau Chief Danny Buenafe, Sison expressed willingness to continue peace talks with the government and even meet with Aquino in a neutral place.

Quoting presidential adviser on the peace process Ging Deles, Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma noted that the offer is a “new element” and that the last known position of the CPP was that they wanted to oust the President.

Aquino has not given his feedback to Sison’s willingness to meet him.

“As mentioned by Secretary Deles, the last known statement from that source is that they are calling for the ouster of the President and now that they are saying they would like to talk, of course we are keeping our options open,” Coloma said.

“We are keeping an open mind about it while we are clarifying the parameters of that offer through the good offices of our facilitators.”