The resumption of peace talks between the government and the communist rebels has been set in the last week of this month, with a Cabinet official expecting positive outcome since "there are no more impediments" on the negotiations.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Avelino Razon Jr. said the peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) was temporarily set in Oslo, Norway, with Nieves Confessor heading the government panel.

“The resumption of the formal peace talks is tentatively set last week of August and not last week of October. It will be in Oslo, Norway and will involve two panels, GRP and NDF,” Razon told reporters in an interview in Camp Crame.

As a gesture of sincerity from the government, Razon revealed that the government is eyeing the release of two high-ranking Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) identified as Elizabeth Principe and Randall Echanis.

Principe, tagged as the CPP-NPA secretary general, was arrested in Cubao, Quezon City in November 2007 while Echanis, deputy secretary general of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, was collared in January last year in Negros Occidental.

“Principe is already released and the release of Echanis is now being worked out,’ said Razon.

But Razon was quick to clarify that the freedom that would be given to Principe and Echanis will just only be for the duration of the peace talks. It was not clear, however, how long the negotiations would last. “Their detention was just suspended. This is not withdrawal of charges,” he stressed.

On the part of Principe, Razon said one of the reasons she was released is for her to participate in the peace talks as an NDF consultant, what with the request of the NDF panel for all their consultants to be allowed to participate.

The peace negotiations between the GRP and the NDF hit a snag a few years ago following the inclusion of the CPP-NPA and some of its leaders, including CPP founder Jose Maria Sison, who is currently on self exile in the Netherlands, were included in the list of international terrorist groups and personalities.

“The NDF said before there were 13 impediments. This was reduced to four. One of the 13 was the labeling of NPA as a terrorist, this was later reduced to four then it was found out that there are no more impediments,” said Razon.