PNoy Welcomes NDF Intention to Talk Peace

President Benigno S. Aquino III said Wednesday his administration welcomes any move by communist insurgents to return to the negotiating table to end several decades of rebellion in the Philippines.

The President, during the annual Presidential Forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines in Marco Polo Ortigas, was asked if he is pursuing peace talks with communist rebels and wants progress before he steps down in 2016.

It was reported that the National Democratic Front (NDF) mentioned on Tuesday that there would be informal talks with the government in Utrecht, The Netherlands.

“That’s a hopeful message from them, but may I reiterate that they were the ones who walked out. So now they are ready to talk. We will welcome,” he said.

“We would rather talk than fight, but if they would rather fight than talk, then we will not accommodate them,” he added.

The negotiations have collapsed following the rebels’ demand for the government to free some of their consultants who are still in detention. PND (as)

Source: PCOO