Sincerity, goodwill to promote talks with leftist rebels: gov't

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Sincerity and goodwill will move forward the two-decade-long peace process between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), a senior government official said today.

Government peace panel chair Alexander Padilla made the statement as peace process with the leftist rebels has been stalled since February.

"Sincerity and goodwill on both sides have brought Muslim Mindanao closer to a regime of peace and prosperity that it desires and deserves," he said, referring to the breakthroughs in the peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim rebel group in the country.

"This is what awaits the rest of the country should a peace agreement be reached between the government and the CPP-NPA-NDF," Padilla added.

Peace negotiation between the Philippine government and the leftist rebels bogged down about six months ago when the two sides failed to agree on some parameters of the talks.

The CPP-NPA-NDF, with its armed wing of the New People's Army, has been waging war against the government for over four decades.