Aquino tells communist rebels to show sincerity in peace talks

President Benigno Aquino III on Monday said the communist rebels should show goodwill and sincerity toward the Philippine government in the ongoing peace negotiations. “Syempre kailangan naman siguro magpakita rin sila ng maayos na gesture kung sinsero sila," the President told reporters in an interview during the 110th service anniversary of the Philippine National Police. Aquino will meet on Monday afternoon with the government panel negotiating with the Communist Party of the Philippines. He wants to determine how the Philippine government can address the series of abductions being staged by the New People’s Army amid the ongoing peace negotiations. “Pag uusapan namin yan with the OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process) this afternoon," he said. Abduction of mayor On Saturday, Lingig town mayor Henry Dano and two of his military escorts were abducted by suspected members of the NPA. Alexander Padilla, the government chief negotiator with the CPP, met with Fidel Agcaoili, spokesman of the negotiating panel of the CPP-National Democratic Front, Saturday in an undisclosed place in Magallanes, Makati City. Padilla on Sunday said he only learned of the abduction after the meeting. He said he will raise the issue with CPP-NDF-NPA. Abduction of BJMP personnel Aquino noted that aside from the incident in Surigao del Sur over the weekend, suspected rebels also abducted Bureau of Jail Management and Penology personnel who were transporting prisoners in Bukidnon last month. “Besides the mayor ipapaalala ko lang yung apat na BJMP personnel na hindi pa rin pinakakawalan e tinutupad lang nila ang kanilang tungkulin na itransport yung mga prisoner na nasa ilalim ng ating mga korte," he said. The President refused to comment if his administration will call for a ceasefire with the rebel group pending the result of his meeting with OPAPP. - VVP, GMA News --