From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 3): Joint ceasefire declaration needed to prevent violence in the ground -- AFP
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday said there is a strong need for the government and rebel peace panel to come out with a joint ceasefire declaration so that sporadic clashing between the units in the ground can be prevented.
AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla issued this statement after noting that six soldiers were already killed and another three abducted after the New People's Army (NPA) announced it is terminating its unilateral ceasefire effective 11:59 p.m. Feb. 10.
"Demands for a joint ceasefire (with the NPA) is one aspect the AFP has been demanding for ever since peace negotiations started in August," he said in Filipino.
With a joint ceasefire declaration, both parties can agree and submit a list of what they consider as violations to the truce, to a duly appointed third monitoring team or facilitators, who will be tasked to look and investigate on these claims, and if necessary, impose sanctions on the offending party, Padilla said.
In unilateral ceasefire, these are no provisions for a third party monitoring team, making it possible for either side to commit truce violations, incidentally or accidentally, without fear of punishment.
The unprovoked attacks against unarmed government troops this week took place in Echague, Isabela; Manay, Davao Oriental; and Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
Padilla said NPA attacks in Isabela resulted in the deaths of two enlisted troopers, one junior officer in Davao Oriental and three enlisted soldiers in Bukidnon.
One abduction incident was reported in Surigao Del Norte last Jan. 29 and two in Sultan Kudarat last Feb. 2.
With these developments, the AFP spokesperson said all military units were placed in heightened alert to safeguard the lives of its troops going about their lawful mandate.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=960819
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