THE Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) Party declares its support for the government to continue peace talks with the New People’s Army (NPA).

In an HNP statement released Tuesday, July 10, 2018, it underscored the importance of peace discussions in establishing a better country for Filipinos to live in.

“The Party believes that security is the foundation of development and the cornerstone of a stable society,” HNP said.

HNP also agrees with the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) presented option of localizing peace negotiations. The HNP officers recognized this option is one of the potential ways in forwarding the peace talks through formal processes.

DILG on Tuesday said that it is currently planning to create guidelines for the localized peace negotiation through Local Government Units (LGU).

The option was also seen as a possible solution by the Malacañang Palace and the Department of National Defense to pursue peace particularly in regions where the height of insurgency is.

“The officers are in agreement that Region 11’s five provinces and Davao City should pursue peace talks with the NPA at the regional level on the basis of guidelines that shall be released by DILG,” HNP said.

Last April, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio reiterated her stance in opposing peace talks with the communist group.

She said that the communist group did not show any sign of interest in pursuing the peace talks.

She cited the attack by the rebels on Lapanday Food Corporation last year, which displaced hundreds of workers.