Local diocese willing to broker negotiations
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Acting Negros Occidental Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said he support resuming local peace talks between the government and the New People’s Army (NPA). In a radio interview, he said localized peace talks are the best solution to resolve the region’s problems with peace and order.
The Diocese of Bacolod Social Action Center, meanwhile, is said to be willing to broker the talks.
Discussion on the resumption of localized peace talks resurfaced following the creation of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who earlier expressed his optimism for the creation of the task force, calling it “an opportunity for us to work together as part of the government and whole-of-nation approach to address the NPA,” said he also supports localized peace talks with insurgents.
The governor added, “Negros Occidental is one of the top provinces which has the most number of local government units influenced by the rebel movement.”/DGB, WDJ