After setting a date for peace talks with MORO, Arroyo wants peace with communists (AFP)

By Rexcel Sorza, IOL Correspondent

ILOILO CITY, Philippines, February 8 (IslamOnline.net) – In a bid to end decades-long of insurgency, the Philippine government has sent a team of negotiators to Norway Sunday, February 8, for a formal peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines.

The government panel, headed by Silvestre Bello III, is upbeat on the chances of ending the decades old communist insurgency problem that has taken its toll socially and economically.

Carrying the hope and support of the populace, led by no less than President Gloria Arroyo, the government negotiators expressed confidence that after years of on-and-off talks, both parties would be able to achieve a breakthrough.

"Unlike the past two years where everything was but exploratory, the two panels are going back to the peace table in formal and serious negotiations," Bello said in a pre-departure statement.

"This time, however, we are confident we can address issues and concerns. Our level of confidence that we are going to succeed comes from the willingness of both panels to speed up the process in a joint declaration signed earlier this month."

CPP founding Chair Jose Maria Sison, who lives in exile in Utrecht, The Netherlands, has recently said that a “just and lasting peace” is possible.

Under the joint declaration, the two panels pledged to formulate confidence-building measures to accelerate the negotiations, address the terrorist tag that the United States government placed on its military arm, the New People’s Army (NPA), and ensure the "proper indemnification" of human rights victims during the Marcos dictatorship.

The peace talks, slated for February 10-13, in Oslo, is also expected to thresh out socio-economic concerns like poverty, human rights, unemployment and livelihood programs.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles is joining the panel composed of Atty. Rene Sarmiento, Education Undersecretary Jose Luis Martin Gascon and Risa Hontiveros Baraquel.

Also with the team is peace panel executive director Ma. Carla Munsayac-Villarta, Assistant Secretary Ma. Cleofe Gettie Sandoval, Radio Philippine Network chairman Cerge Remonde, Tarlac Gov. Jose Yap, Rebecca Tanada, Maj. Ferdinand Baraquel and Oscar Bathan.

The delegation was given a send off mass this morning at the Our Lady of Peace Shrine in EDSA attended by no less than the President, former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Corazon Aquino, and other government officials.

MILF-GRP talks

The Oslo talks take place just a few days before the scheduled resumption of exploratory talks between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Philippine government from February 16-17 in Kuala Lumpur.

Both parties also expect a positive result of their meeting which would pave the way for the resumption of the formal peace negotiations between them.

In reiterating their determination to resolve the so-called  Mindanao problem peacefully, Benjie Midtimbang, chair of the MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, said Saturday, February 7, that “the peace process is too dear for us to sacrifice.”

He said: “I challenge all of us to wage a war against peace saboteurs. Too much efforts were already spent just to reinstall the peace process. The peace saboteurs think only of their own personal interests at the expense of peace and tranquility of the freedom and peace-loving people.”

Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia, Vice chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and chair of the GRP Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, on the other hand declared that the government’s seriousness in putting an end to the armed conflict.

“It is apparent to us, it is very clear to all of us as it is becoming clearer to many people in Mindanao that the peace process is the only way towards the peaceful resolution of the Mindanao conflict,” Garcia said.

The duo, along with representatives of both camps met on Saturday for the opening of the 15th meeting of the Joint GRP-MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities in Davao City. The committee is tasked to ensure that the cease-fire agreements entered into by both parties as observed.

The Communist Party of the Philippines have launched a revolution to take the power from the government and establish a communist state.

The MILF, on the other hand, wants to reclaim the territories it believes to have been taken away from the Filipino Muslims or the Bangsamoro and to establish an Islamic state.

The struggles of the CPP and MILF have claimed thousands of lives of innocent civilians as well as fighters and soldiers.