CPP: ‘Anti-peace’ forces out to derail talks

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is wary over the 18-month timetable set for the completion of the peace talks between the government and the CPP’s political wing, the National Democratic Front. In a statement, the CPP said that while socio-economic problems remain rampant and deep-seated, there are “anti-peace" forces out to sabotage peace efforts. “It would be extremely difficult to resolve such deeply rooted problems in a little more than a year. This is especially so in the face of active efforts by anti-peace forces to sabotage and derail the talks," it said. The CPP said the negotiating panels of the government and the NDF agreed to complete the following draft agreements in the next 18 months.