President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that the government would exert all efforts to finally reach an agreement with the communist rebels and solve the decades-old insurgency problem in the country.

"The yearning of our people for peace has reached a high point, and we are prepared to walk the extra mile," the President said in a statement.

The President said that this is the time that the Filipino people need peace most "as we strive to overcome the economic crisis and forge new political horizons."

"It is important that all sides heed the voice of the people, put all extraneous issues aside and strike a clear path towards a durable, just and comprehensive peace under the rule of law," the President said.

The President’s statement came on the heels of the release of two soldiers held captive by the New People’s Army (NPA) for about six months in the Bicol Region.

The two soldiers, 1st Lt. Ronaldo Fidelino and Pfc Ronel Nemeno, were presented to the President late Wednesday night at the Malacanang sa Sugbu (Malacanang in Cebu) a few hours after their release in Camarines Sur.

Government peace negotiators and the National Democratic Front (NDF), have expressed the hope that the release of the two captives would result in the resumption of the peace talks between the government and the NDF.

The talks were scheduled to resume in Oslo, Norway on August 24-30 but the NDF called for its postponement after the United States renewed its listing of the CPP as a "foreign" terrorist organization.

In her statement, the President said "there is room for every creed and ideology in our democratic society for as long as principled politics, not arms, continue to be the standard of participation."

Some leaders of left-leaning groups are now sitting in Congress as party-list representatives.