Palace welcomes return of NDF leader for peace talks

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday welcomed the return of exiled National Democratic Front (NDF) chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni ahead of a resumption of peace talks that both sides hope will end a 40-year insurgency.

Jalandoni and wife Consuelo Ledesma, both members of the communist-led NDF, took advantage of the government’s promise of immunity and returned to Manila on Sunday to visit Jalandoni’s ailing sister, said their colleague, Rep. Satur Ocampo.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Jalandoni’s return is the latest positive indicator for the revival of negotiations that broke down five years ago.

“The pursuit of peace has always been the policy of the President even if there are so many obstacles,” Remonde said. “Our government will continue to pursue dialogues for peace even if there are those who want to sabotage it.”

Jalandoni has said he would take part in the talks and that they could resume as early as August in the Norwegian capital of Oslo.

Norway, which has been facilitating the negotiations for years, arranged a meeting between the government and rebels in The Hague last month.   — Paolo Romero, AP