presidential adviser on peace process Teresita Deles. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The government is continuing its dialogue with leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) not involved in the bloody siege in Zamboanga City in September, presidential adviser on peace process Secretary Teresita Deles told a Senate hearing on Tuesday.
“We understand that we have in fact feelers and we are in dialogue with different leaders of the different factions of the MNLF who would like to continue the process and are distancing from the action that had been taken in Zamboanga,” Deles said during the budget hearing for he office.
“The policy of this government is that we will continue to talk and engage on those who are willing to proceed with peace towards making the changes that are necessary in the area,” she added.
Meanwhile, the government ‘s efforts to forge peace with the communist rebels remained at a standstill after their meeting last February bogged down.
“We are at an impasse with the CPP-NPA-NDF group,” government chief negotiator Alex Padilla told the same hearing.
CPP-NPA-NDF is Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front.
Without further questions, the Senate sub-committee on finance approved the proposed budget of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process for 2014.