30 May 2017

News Story: (Philippines) Gov’t, NDF iron out kinks to save peace talks

New People’s Army (NPA) Rebels
By Ghio Ong

MANILA, Philippines -  The government and the National Democratic Front are ironing out issues for the peace negotiations to resume, following the Duterte administration’s decision to suspend talks with the NDF over the continued attacks of its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).

The government and the NDF panels yesterday tackled issues hampering the resumption of peace talks.

Before this, the government and NDF panels attended a mass held at a hotel in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Bishop Sergio Utleg read a statement from Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, urging both parties to go on with the peace negotiations.

The fifth round of talks scheduled from May 27 to June 1 is originally intended for the creation of a Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms or CASER.

Senators backed the move of the Duterte administration to suspend talks with the NDF.

Read the full story at PhilStar