NDF ready to hold informal talks with gov't

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The leftist rebel group National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) is willing to hold informal talks with the government in May, its senior official said today.

NDFP negotiating panel chairperson Luis Jalandoni denied allegation of Philippine government peace panel head Alexander Padilla that his group only proposed to have informal talks with the Aquino government after the arrest of couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, top leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) recently.

Jalandoni said that in his meeting with Padilla last February in Makati City, Metro Manila, "We already stated our willingness to agree with the proposal of the Royal Norwegian Government to hold informal talks or consultations with the Aquino government in May 2014."

Norway has been facilitating the peace process between the Philippine government and the NDFP, the political wing of the CPP- NPA.

Peace talks between the government and the NDFP bogged down in February last year.