Malacañang welcomes GRP-NDF interim joint ceasefire deal

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 6): Malacañang welcomes GRP-NDF interim joint ceasefire deal

Malacañang on Thursday welcomed the interim joint ceasefire agreement between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) saying it hopes that the deal would avert further bloodshed on the ground.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the agreement forged in Noordwijk, Netherlands on Wednesday evening will immediately take effect as soon as the guidelines and ground rules are approved.

“The interim joint ceasefire agreement shall remain in effect until a permanent ceasefire is forged between the two panels. We hope this prevents further hostilities and unnecessary loss of lives on the ground,” Abella said.

Hostilities between government forces and communist rebels flared up in February after both sides terminated their respective unilateral ceasefires.

On February 3, President Rodrigo Duterte called on government forces to prepare for an all-out offensive against the New People’s Army (NPA).

He however later opened the door for the resumption of peace talks based on a set of conditions that should be first met by the rebels -- that the communists should stop collecting revolutionary taxes, should not claim any territory, and release all its captives.

The President also maintained that he would only agree to a bilateral ceasefire agreement.

On Wednesday, Duterte announced that the NDF panel have promised the release of four remaining government forces in NPA custody.

Abella said the interim joint agreement has shown the political maturity of Filipinos.

“The peace process, while seemingly slow, highlights the maturing social and political sense of the Filipino. Together let us build communities that are just and peaceful. This is what being an independent sovereign nation is all about,” Abella said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=978238