NEGROS Occidental acting Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said he backs the resumption of localized peace talks between the government and local insurgents from the New People’s Army (NPA).
Ferrer said localized peace talks is the best solution in order to resolve the region’s problems on peace and order.
The Diocese of Bacolod’s Social Action Center, meanwhile, is reported to be willing to broker talks between local government and the rebels.
The resumption of localized peace talks was made following the creation of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC).
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who earlier expressed his optimism for the creation of the task force, calling it “an opportunity for us to work together as part of the government and whole-of-nation approach to address the NPA,” said he also supports localized peace talks with insurgents.
The governor added, “Negros Occidental is one of the top provinces which has the most number of local government units influenced by the rebel movement.” (TDE)