BAYAN Muna partylist representative lawyer Carlos Isagani Zarate welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte's willingness to resume peace negotiations between the government and the communists.
Zarate, who is also the vice-chair of the House Special Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, said Bayan Muna hoped that formal talks will resume on April 2 to 6.
The peace negotiation was originally scheduled on April 2 to 6 during the January Rome Third Round of Talks.
"We also urge the parties (Government of the Philippines and National Democratic Front of the Philippines) to honor previous agreements and not to attach any precondition for its resumption," Zarate said.
He said the resumption of the peace talks will certainly further advance the bold gains already generated during the last three rounds of talks that began in August last year.
He added that much have already been achieved in the substantive agenda on the socio-economic, political and constitutional reforms, thus, this is not the time to abandon the peace process that seeks for a possible solution.
Zarate said Bayan Muna also urged the president to rein in the militarists in his administration who are hell-bent on derailing and sabotaging the progress of the peace negotiation.
Zarate said around 140 House members have co-authored House Resolution 769 calling for the resumption of the peace negotiations after it was suspended last February.