Aquino Discusses Cease-Fire With 2 Rebel Delegates

President Corazon Aquino took time out from a meet-the-people tour of the central Philippines to speak to representatives of the banned Communist Party about prospects for a cease-fire in the 17-year-old guerrilla insurgency.

A joint statement issued later said that Aquino discussed a truce with two rebel representatives who came out of hiding to meet her at a convent on the island of Panay.

The statement, issued after the unscheduled 35-minute meeting at the main town of Iloilo, said, “Both sides were open to the idea of a cease-fire while talks on issues regarding the island of Panay are being discussed.”

It was believed to be the first time Aquino has met people who say they are Communist Party leaders, although they were introduced to her only as local representatives.

The emissaries were a former Roman Catholic priest and a daughter of a former town mayor who had gone undergound.

Presidential spokesman Teodoro Benigno said he believes that the national leaders of the Communist Party had authorized the two local rebel leaders to meet Aquino.

He quoted the president as saying that the next step would be to designate a panel in the shortest possible time to discuss demands and issues of the rebels.

“The talks are supposed to be quite soon,” he added.