Communist Party chief says bilateral ceasefire to be discussed in resumption of peace talks
Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison said Tuesday, December 20 that the unilateral ceasefire declarations of the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) will remain in effect during the holiday season.
The Netherlands-based Sison, who is also NDFP chief political consultant, said this in a Facebook post where he also mentioned his phone conversation with President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday.
Determination is etched on the face of this New People’s Army (NPA) combatant in a show of force by the communist rebels during a news conference held at a guerilla encampment in the Sierra Madre mountains, November 23. (AP | Manila Bulletin)
The palace has yet to release details on Duterte’s phone call to the NDFP chief political consultant.
But Sison, in his Facebook post, wrote: “I had a friendly and productive phone conversation with President Duterte about advancing the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations at around 7:00 p.m. last night Utrecht time.”
“The unilateral ceasefire declarations of the GRP and NDFP will stand during the Christmas and New Year holidays,” he further said without specifying dates.
“Bilateral ceasefire agreement and the amnesty and release of the political prisoners listed by the NDFP can be discussed and agreed upon before, during and even after the third round of formal talks in Rome from January 18 to 24,” he added.
Duterte was previously sanguine about the truce with the communists—saying that the government negotiating team “will not really abandon the things that we all crave for our country”— even as he rejected the demand to free 130 political prisoners unless the government and the rebels agree to a joint ceasefire.
“I’m sorry but I have already conceded so much on the side of the government,” said the president.
Duterte, however, agreed to release the sickly, elderly and women political prisoners.
On Saturday, he revealed his wish for Christmas is for gun battles with the communist and Muslim rebels and even the Abu Sayyaf Group to take a back seat to allow peace to reign during the holiday season.
http://news.mb.com.ph/2016/12/20/joma-sison-reds-to-observe-holiday-unilateral-ceasefire/
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