The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has always been open to resuming peace talks with the national government, according to one of its officers.
This statement comes following the death of its founder Jose Maria 'Joma' Sison over the weekend.
"The doors of the NDFP (National Democratic Front of the Philippines) and the CPP are always open to peace negotiations as a means of addressing the social and economic roots of the people's armed resistance, as long as all past agreements will be reaffirmed and respected," said CPP chief information officer Marco Valbuena in an interview with CNN Philippines.
According to Valbuena, Sison said in July that peace talks can resume should President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. wants it.
However, he noted that the "the US-controlled defense/security establishment in the Philippines" may be opposed to resuming negotiations "because they are only interested in waging war."
Sison has lived in self-imposed exile in Europe ever since peace talks with the government bogged down in 1987.
He founded the CPP on Dec. 26, 1968.
