Aquino still hoping for the best in peace negotiation with CPP-NPA-NDF

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 17): Aquino still hoping for the best in peace negotiation with CPP-NPA-NDF
After the historic forging of the Framework Agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), President Benigno Aquino III Wednesday said he is still hoping a peace agreement could also be reached with the communist insurgents. Speaking at the Presidential Forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) at the Manila Hotel, the President said while talks have resumed with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), he cannot give a timeline on the peace negotiations. "Well, the other day I was told that they (communist rebels) are renewing dialogue with us. I tend to be pessimistic in the sense of preparing for the worst and hoping for the best," he said. "There is some reason to believe that we are moving forward, in terms of the dialogue and the efforts that we are trying to achieve settlement also with the CPP-NPA-NDF," he added. President Aquino said neither party have closed their doors on a possible reconciliation, "but at this point in time, I cannot tell you there is a fixed date when we will announce anything...."

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=463488