NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. is supporting the resumption of the peace talks between the government peace panel and the National Democratic Front (NDF).
Marañon said it is a good development if the government and the NDF will resume peace talks provided there must be ceasefire.
Since the start of his administration in 2010, Marañon said a total of 114 New People's Army (NAP) rebels have surrendered in response to his call for a localized peace talks with the rebels.
"More rebels are coming down," he said.
The governor pointed out that it is very hard for the rebels to stay in the mountains and suffer poverty, and have no peace especially that the military is going after them.
Marañon's statement came as the government renewed its call to the rebels to resume the peace talks with the government.
Lawyer Alex Padilla, chair of the government peace panel for the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army/NDF, in this year's National Peace Consciousness Month, asked the CPP/NPA/NDF to join the government in searching for fair and peaceful solutions to the issues that divide both parties.
"We have asked them to engage in talks that have a clear agenda and time table, to talk not just for the sake of talking, but to reach specific agreements that will lessen if not eradicate the violence on the ground," he said.
Padilla added: "History has shown that it is through earnest dialogue, not armed violence, that we can create peace. Government's doors have always been open to peaceful dialogue; we have not lost hope that we and the communist rebels will return to the table."
The peace talks between the government and the NDF stalled because of some demands that cannot be met by both parties.