CPP chief sees Arroyo as hindrance to dialogue

Peace talks between the communist National Democratic Front (NDF) and the Philippine government will succeed only if President Gloria Arroyo is no longer the head of state, said Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman, Jose Maria Sison.

In a statement from his home in Utrecht, the Netherlands, Sison noted: "It would be more productive to resume the peace negotiations if someone like former education secretary Raul Roco or Senate majority leader Loren Legarda assume the presidency."

The NDF is also willing to negotiate with Vice-President Teofisto Guingona, if he "can somehow replace her (Arroyo) prior to the 2004 national and local elections", said Sison.

Arroyo had ousted Guingona from the post of foreign secretary because of their differences over the holding of the expanded U.S.-Philippine wargames in the country.

The NDF is still willing to talk peace but only when Arroyo "ceases to be the president", Sison added.

NDF peace panel chairperson, Luis Jalandoni, has been giving conflicting statements, saying that the NDF is open to peace talks with the government, but the proposed re-opening of the negotiations is under "indefinite study".

Peace negotiations with the NDF remained suspended since June last year when Sison congratulated the NPA for assassinating two members of the Philippine House of Representatives.

But sources said both formal and informal talks would resume in early September.