Palace hopes initial talks in Netherlands lead to GPH-NDF talks

MANILA (PNA) -- Malacanang said on Sunday it hopes that the initial talk with the communist party leaders in the Netherlands will lead to reopening of dialogue with the rebels. Sana po mula doon sa inisyal na pakikipag-usap ni (House) Speaker (Feliciano) Belmonte sa mga lider ng CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front) sa Netherlands ay magkaroon po ng progreso hinggil sa muling pagbubukas ng diyalogo o usapan sa pagitan ng dalawang panig,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in a radio interview with dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.Coloma noted that the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process has an active desk” that deals with the peace talk with the communist rebels.House Speaker Belmonte had a talk with CPP founder Jose Maria Sison last Friday in the Netherlands, where the latter is currently in exile. Also present during the meeting was NDF Chairman Luis Jalandoni.Belmonte was at the Hague, Netherlands to attend the hearing at the United Nations Arbitrary Tribunal where the Philippines filed a petition against China’s reclamation activities at the West Philippine Sea.The House Speaker is representing the Philippine legislative branch at the hearing. The Executive branch is represented by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, the Judiciary by Supreme Court Justices Antonio Carpio and Francis Jardeleza. Also present are other Cabinet secretaries and Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, also representing the Philippines together with American lawyers. (PNA)