Govt questions sincerity of CPP-NPA-NDF call to resume talks

The government negotiating panel on Wednesday questioned the sincerity of communist insurgents in calling for the resumption of peace talks.

 

In a statement, GPH chief negotiator Alexander Padilla said they only found out about the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front's (CPP-NPA-NDF)’s call through the media.

 

To date, however, Padilla said there has been was no formal notification to the government on the matter.

 

“Nabasa lang rin namin yung mga [details ng proposal] sa dyaryo. Kung gusto talagang makipag-usap, you don’t do it through the media,” he said.  

 

He added that the proper approach would have been for the group to inform the Norwegian government, the third party facilitator of the peace negotiations since 2004. 

 

"It [the statement] was given to the media. There is a difference. So, to us, it is mere propaganda,” he said. 

 

“Sana pinag-usapan namin. Kasi ako mismo may mga tanong din sa mga agenda na yan—sa tingin ko parang hindi seryoso,” he added.

 

Padilla also said that among the new terms presented by the group, a discussion on Typhoon Yolanda, is not even part of the "regular track [of the negotiations].”

 

However, he noted that government welcomes any informal initiatives from the Church and other sectors that can bridge the gap between the two negotiating panels.

 

“We have never left the negotiating table. We are just waiting for them to go back and sincerely talk peace,” he said. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News