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Tuesday, August 20, 2002
Palace insists on back channeling with reds
PRESIDENT Arroyo Monday said the government peace panel would continue its back channeling talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF) in spite of the communist movement's withdrawal from formal peace talks.
During a luncheon meeting with some mediamen in Lucena City, the President said he has instructed Agrarian Reform Secretary Hernani Braganza to continue with the back channeling talks insisting that the communist movement usually uses the formal peace talks as their venue to advance their propaganda.
"I've talked to Nani last night I said back-channeling mode. No one is stopped from talking to other side not in a formal conference setting," he said.
Mrs. Arroyo refused to comment on the reported withdrawal of the NDF from the peace talks.
But, at a briefing, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the NDF has been out of the formal peace negotiations.
"But as we have earlier described the situation we are still on a back channel mode and precisely we have designated additional negotiators to meet with their counterparts," he said.
He said Malacañang has not received any confirmation yet from government peace panel chairman Secretary Silvestre Bello with regard to reports that the NDF has pulled out of the peace talks.
National Security Adviser Roilo Golez, in a radio interview, said reports about the withdrawal of the NDF from the peace talks have yet to be confirmed.
Golez noted that many statements have been lately attributed to the NDF, the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines, but later denied having such.
Golez, however, admitted that Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Eduardo Ermita and Bello are now determining whether the NDF had, indeed, pulled out from the peace talks.
"We have persons prepared for formal or back channel talks," Golez said.
Golez insisted that what the government has been asking from the NDF is to order its armed group, the New People's Army (NPA) to stop its killing activities and other acts of terrorism. (Joel San Juan) |
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