Sen. Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal and the National Democratic Front on Wednesday urged the Philippine government to restart peace talks with communist rebels in the country before the May 2010 elections.

Madrigal and members of the NDF negotiating panel headed by chairman Luis Jalandoni signed a statement urging the government to undertake steps to resume peace talks with the communist movement. The NDF is the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which has been waging a Maoist rebellion in the Southeast Asian nation for the past 40 years.

Both sides underlined the urgency of starting peace negotiations on social and economic reforms to address the roots of the 40-year-old armed conflict and find practical solutions to the problems of widespread poverty and hunger. "The GRP-NDFP peace talks must also address the worsening human rights situation in the country, characterized by gross and systematic human rights violations by the regime's military, police and paramilitary forces," the statement read.

The statement was signed by Madrigal, Jalandoni and NDFP chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison. Also present during the signing were NDF panelists Fidel Agcaoili, Julieta de Lima and Coni Ledesma.

Madrigal, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, met with the NDF panel in Utrecht, The Netherlands on November 16-17. In an interview, she said she found the NDF panel ready and willing to resume peace talks.

"The NDF is willing to talk. I doubt if the GRP side has the goodwill, the desire to start peace negotiations. As a Filipino, I will push my government to restart the talks because every day that it is delayed more people die. I hope that there will be peace and not wait for the elections," she said.

She said the resumption of peace negotiations could be President Arroyo's legacy before she steps down in 2010. "Even if there is no signing, it should start before the end of her term," she said.

Sison said it is up to the Philippine government to make the move towards a resumption of the peace negotiation.

“Laging handa ang NDF na makipagusap muli ng formal sa GRP or Manila government. Ang may pananagutan sa mahabang panahon na walang pag-uusap eh GRP. Sila ang gumawa ng pagsuspinde…sila ang mailap. Di lang mailap, sila yung gumagawa ng pambabara, “ Sison said.

Both sides also opposed the appointment of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales as secretary of national defense, whom they said may sabotage the talks. They noted that Gonzales is one of the chief implementors of Oplan Bantay Laya, a government operation bent on killing and persecuting members of legal organizations such as Bayan Muna and Anakpawis.

Madrigal said Gonzales is a militarist who believes in arms. On the other hand, Sison said human rights violations could only worsen under Gonzales and may even lead to the failure of elections.

“Gagawa ng milagro laban sa sovereign will ng masang Pilipino. May mga nagsasabi na baka ito signo ng pagpapanatilii ni GMA sa kapangyarihan sa pamamagitan ng failure of elections at pagpanimula o paggamit sa AFP sa ilalim nitong Norberto Gonzales,” Sison said.