Government, rebel peace talks to resume

PEACE talks between the Government of the Philippines and National Democratic Front (GPH-NDF) will resume in September this year.

GPH peace panel member Ednar Dayanghirang, speaking in Monday's Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao, said the new round of peace negotiations, stalled for almost a year, will be held in Norway. But he did not give a specific date for the continuation of the peace talks.

He said among the issues to be discussed next month are the demands of both parties, including the cessation of hostilities in Mindanao.

The government also demanded to stop violence allegedly invoked by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA), and a stop to the use of landmines.

On the part of the NDF panel, some of their demands included the compensation for the victims of human rights violations during the Marcos, release of the remaining NDF consultants, and the release of more than 300 political prisoners.

Edtami Mansayagan, Indigenous People (IP) consultant of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (Opapp), said the IPs are demanding for peace in their war-torn area in Binikalan, San Luis town in Agusan del Sur.

"We wanted to have a place wherein we can live with peace and respect," he said.

He said many innocent civilians were killed because of the war between military and the rebels.