Govt likely to reciprocate rebel ceasefire - Andanar

From InterAksyon (Aug 20): Govt likely to reciprocate rebel ceasefire - Andanar

The government is likely to reciprocate the seven-day unilateral ceasefire declared by communist rebels for the resumption of formal peace negotiations, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Saturday.

In an interview by CNN Philippines, Andanar quoted presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza as saying President Rodrigo Duterte had "expressed the desire" to reciprocate the rebel ceasefire. Dureza is leaving for Oslo, Norway to attend the start of the negotiations on August 22.

He said the government ceasefire would likely take effect midnight of August 21, the same time as that declared on Friday by the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People's Army.

The rebel ceasefire was declared hours after most of the 22 detained consultants of the National Democratic Front were released on bail to allow them to join the negotiations.

Duterte first declared a unilateral ceasefire on operations against the communists during his first state of the nation address. However, he took this back a few days later when the rebels ignored his demand to reciprocate after NPA guerrillas ambushed militiamen in Mindanao, killing one and wounding four others, in what they said was a defensive action against a government offensive.

http://interaksyon.com/article/131622/govt-likely-to-reciprocate-rebel-ceasefire---andanar