AFP hopeful 2017 will be the year of real peace

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 3): AFP hopeful 2017 will be the year of real peace

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) strongly supports President Rodrigo Duterte's agenda for a just and lasting peace and is hopeful that 2017 will be the year where it will finally start.

This was disclosed by AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla who said the entire military is hoping that something positive, concrete, and definite will be announced this year regarding the ongoing peace talks with the New People's Army (NPA) rebels.

"We are all supportive of the President's agenda to have a long lasting and justice with the group and we are looking forward, the year 2016 was a pioneering year for the resumption, it was a good year for the resumption of the peace talks and hopefully year 2017 will start with a good joint declaration," he added.

Armed confrontation between the AFP and the NPA finally ceased after Duterte restored the declaration of ceasefire on Aug. 21 after noting violations from the rebel group.

The President's gesture in restoring the erstwhile unilateral ceasefire declaration effectively reimposed the suspension of military operations earlier issued by the AFP to its field units.

"Further, peace-building efforts were exerted to ensure that line units are aware of the advocacy of the Commander-in-Chief, including the dissemination of the proposed reconstituted JASIG (Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees) list and the release of detained alleged political prisoners. The original JASIG list was meant to identify communist members who will figure in the peace negotiations with the CPP-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front) and will aid in the implementation of the ceasefire with the rebels," the AFP earlier said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=952350