The government and the Communist Party of the Philippines have declared a 15-day “unilateral and reciprocal” ceasefire starting today until Jan. 7, 2020.
UNITY IN UTRECHT. Peace panel members (from left Hernani Braganza for the government) and CPP founder Jose Ma. Sison forge their call for a receiprocal truce for 15-days with a handshake in the presence of Third Party Facilitator Kristina Revheim of Norway and CPP-NDF’s Field Agcaoili.
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President Rodrigo Duterte also ordered the reconstitution of the government negotiating panel for the peace talks with the CPP-National Democratic Front-New People’s Army—an official move toward the revival of the negotiations which the commander-in-chief terminated in November 2017.The new panel will now include Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as among its members.
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“The Palace hereby announces that President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the declaration of a unilateral and reciprocal ceasefire with the coalition of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF),” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said.
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President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the declaration of a unilateral and reciprocal ceasefire with the coalition of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF),” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said.
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“With the undertaking of these confidence-building measures—a reflection of the seriousness and commitment of the GRP, as well as a mark of goodwill on the part of the commander-in-chief—the Office of the President looks forward to the possible resumption of peace talks with the NDF, achieve accord with the whole coalition and ultimately, attain a lasting peace among the citizenry of our country,” the Palace official added.Duterte ordered the Department of National Defense and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, to issue an official declaration for the national armistice with the communist rebels.Hours before the Palace order, the CPP Central Committee also released its own ceasefire declaration.
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“The purpose of the reciprocal and unilateral ceasefires is to generate a positive atmosphere conducive to the holding of informal talks preparatory to the formal meeting to resume the peace negotiations.
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These shall be measures of goodwill and confidence building during the traditional celebrations of Christmas and New Year holidays,” it said.Over the weekend, representatives of the government and the NDF have signed a joint statement recommending a truce, CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison said on his Facebook page.The recommendation was signed on Dec. 21 in Utrecht, The Netherlands by Hernani Braganza, authorized negotiator for the government, and NDF negotiating panel senior adviser Luis Jalandoni and chairperson Fidel Agcaoili for the communist rebels.
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The President recently ordered Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to talk to Sison in a bid to reopen the doors for peace talks.Despite the ongoing peace initiatives, the Eastern Mindanao Command vowed to be more aggressive in ending communist armed conflict next year.Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, Eastmincom spokesman, said it would take the lead with the different local government units (LGUs) to address the decades-long communist insurgency.
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“We will also run after the remaining armed group,” Balagtey said.Balagtey cited the surrender of 696 regular NPA members, the arrest of 85 rebels, and the death of 56 members in encounters.At the same time, a total of 689 were surrendered while 364 were seized during encounters, he said.
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posted December 23, 2019 at 01:30 am byMJ Blancaflor
