Despite the deadlock in the peace talks with the National Democratic Front, the government is not giving up, a member of the government negotiating peace panel, said yesterday.

“Let us not be cynical or pessimistic about the outcome of the peace talks,” Jurgette Honculada, said.

The government peace negotiations with the NDF aimed at ending the 45-year-old insurgency problem, already spans 26 years, with five presidents initiating them.

Hunculada said she also supports the peace dialogs being pushed by the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division in Western Visayas, in support of the ongoing national peace talks.

Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, 3rd ID commander, had said earlier that they will continue the pursuit of peace despite the rejection by the NDF of its call for a localized peace dialog.

“Go for it”, Hunculada said of the Army proposal, said.

Representatives of various multi-sectoral groups, including the Negros Press Club, who attended a peace forum sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bacolod Central, in partnership with the provincial government of Negros Occidental and Pax Christi International, yesterday expressed their commitment to peace in Negros Occidental.

The NDF demand for the immediate release of 14 persons it claims as its consultants and are protected by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees, caused the talks to bog down more than a year ago.,

While the government is open to the release of the alleged NDF consultants, it will be subject to the judicial process and on a case-to-case basis, Honculada said, adding that some of those released alleged rebel leaders went back to the mountains.

Honculada said they have noted that violence on the ground perpetrated by the NPA, escalated, as the peace talks stalled.

As part of the confidence-building measures, Honculada said the NPA should lower the level of violence against civilians and business establishments, and avoid the use of landmines.

Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade, who was among the panel of reactors during the peace forum held at the Business Inn in Bacolod City, said he noted a lower level of violence, with the ongoing celebration of the Peace Consciousness Month in Negros Occidental.

Lactao also expressed his commitment to strict adherence in upholding of human rights, the rule of law, and to minimize collateral damage during military operations.

Harry Pineda of the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, said the public has a big role to play in putting pressure on the government and the NDF to sit down again at the negotiating table.*GPB

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