New terms given for resumption of talks with communists

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles: New terms. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The government will restart peace talks with the communists only if both sides have a “doable and time-bound agenda.”

“We don’t want to start talks only to fail again so quickly. We don’t want to restart talks on the same basis as before,” said Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles after she spoke at the Asean Institute for Peace and Reconciliation forum at the Peninsula Manila on Monday.

Deles told reporters past talks had focused on “procedural matters” such as the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees.

“If we just sit and talk about Jasig, maybe that is not bringing us anywhere, the people would not care about that,” she said.

She said there were “overtures” to resume the talks from both sides. “Friends of the process were exploring” talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-New People’s Army, she said.—Christine O. Avendaño