Army chief wants talks with rebel priest

Mr. Bautista, who met with Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon at the capitol on Wednesday, said the Philippine Army wants to invite Mr. Fernandez to sit down and discuss problems and issues.

Despite the continued atrocities of the NPA rebels, he said they were "winning the peace" in Negros and Panay.

"More people have realized that more than four decades of armed conflict is enough. It’s about time we have to really give peace a chance," he said.

He said violence and armed struggle is not the solution, but working together in the true spirit of bayanihan is.

The governor, for his part, hoped other rebels will respond to his invitation to leave the rebel movement and help his administration fight poverty. The provincial government has provided livelihood assistance to almost 50 rebel returnees.

"We will continue to support the rebel returnees in their livelihood," he said.

Last March, 15 rebel returnees including two couples from Cauayan town and Sipalay City received livelihood and financial assistance.

National Democratic Negros, the political wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA, had scored the surrender ceremony as public relations gimmick. -- NLG
Source http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=Army-chief-wants-talks-with-rebel-priest&id=51159