Govt, NDFP declare Christmas ceasefire
Credit to Author: Dempsey Reyes| Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2019 16:16:31 +0000
The government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Sunday agreed on a 16-day nationwide ceasefire for the Christmas holiday.
The CPP was the first to declare a ceasefire for Christmas, saying it will take effect from 12 a.m. on December 23 until 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 7, 2020.
Later Sunday night, Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo announced that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has ordered reciprocal ceasefire during the same period.
Panelo said Duterte the President also ordered the revival of the government’s negotiating team with the communists, naming Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as among its members.
The last unilateral Christmas ceasefire was declared by the two sides in 2016.
The CPP’s Central Committee issued a “nationwide ceasefire order” to all New People’s Army (NPA) commanders, units and the so-called people’s militias which it said will take effect from 12 a.m. on Dec. 23 until 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 7, 2020.
The committee added that the ceasefire order “shall take effect upon issuance of the corresponding and reciprocal ceasefire orders in the form of Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) and Suspension of Police Operations (SOPO) to be issued by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).”
Negotiators for the government and the NDFP recommended on Sunday a ceasefire between their forces this Christmas.
The statement was signed by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd and Hernani Braganza of the Philippine government panel, and Luis Jalandoni and Fidel Agcaoili of the NDFP panel.
The signing of the recommendation was made last Saturday in Utrecht, The Netherlands, and was witnessed by Kristina Lie Revheim of the Royal Norwegian government.
“During the ceasefire period, the respective armed units and personnel of the Parties shall cease and desist from carrying out offensive military operations against the other,” the statement stated.
The truce was in line with efforts by both sides to set up a “positive environment” for the holding of informal talks preparatory to the resumption of peace negotiations.
“These shall be measures of goodwill and confidence building during the traditional celebrations of Christmas and New Year holidays,” the statement said.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, said he was not aware of the recommendation by the two panels.
“We are not aware of this agreement between Sec. Bello and Jalandoni. We await advice from the Palace,” Lorenzana said in a message on Viber.
Lorenzana has consistently rejected declaring a ceasefire during the holiday season, saying it was “disadvantageous” to the government.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said it would be up to President Rodrigo Duterte to agree to a unilateral ceasefire during the Christmas and New Year break, but he will “abide with whatever he decides.”
The recommendation for a holiday truce follows up on Duterte’s order to Bello to lay the groundwork for reopening the on-and-off negotiations with the communist rebels.
In November 2017, the President terminated the talks through Proclamation 360.
Panelo said it was time for the communist rebels to end the five decades of war “for us to have lasting peace in our country.”
House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate welcomed the recommendation for a ceasefire.
“This certainly will augur well in creating the favorable environment necessary for the resumption of the cancelled peace talks between the GRP and NDFP, which is long awaited by our people,” Zarate said.
“We strongly call on the GRP and NDFP to resume the talks in earnest without preconditions and based on previously signed and binding agreements,” he added.
WITH ARIC CUA