Philippine government still hopes for ceasefire with Maoist rebels despite recent clashes
President Duterte lifted the truce with the communist New People’s Army on Saturday evening, six days after it was declared as a goodwill gesture
The Philippines may reimpose a ceasefire with Maoist-led guerrillas, a senior official said the day after it was withdrawn by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Duterte lifted the unilateral truce with the communist New People’s Army on Saturday evening, six days after it was declared as a goodwill gesture ahead of formal peace negotiations in Oslo this month. The move came after rebels did not respond to a deadline to reciprocate the government’s truce.
“We may work out a negotiated truce with the Communists,” Jesus Dureza, presidential peace adviser, said. “It was in our agenda when the formal peace talks resume in Oslo. The peace talks will go on as scheduled.”
The peace talks, brokered by Norway, will resume on August 20, four years after bogging down due to rebels’ demand for the release of 500 political prisoners. The government has now promised to free them for health and humanitarian reasons.
The road to peace is a difficult one, where deadlines and ultimatums cannot just be imposed
Dureza said he welcomed a statement from rebel leader Jose Maria Siso, who was interviewed on local television hours after Duterte withdrew the ceasefire, saying the communists had also intended to impose a truce but it was overtaken by events.
“This is what we have been waiting for,” Dureza said. “The leadership of the CPP/NPA/NDF announced through the media its belated but still strategic and awaited decision to also declare its own unilateral ceasefire.”