LUCENA CITY – Exiled Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, said the communist insurgents would study the ceasefire proposal of President Duterte amid the outbreak of the dreaded coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country.
“The offer will be seriously studied by the NDFP (National Democratic Front of the Philippines) and the Communist Party of the Philippines,” Sison, said in a statement from Utrecht in The Netherlands on Monday night.
He said the study would not only be related “to the common fight against COVID-19 but also to the resumption of the peace negotiations.”
Sison, however, demanded that the President formally present his ceasefire proposal in writing.
“If he is really serious with his offer to have a ceasefire with the NDFP he must make a formal offer through the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) negotiating panel to the NDFP negotiating panel,” Sison, the NDFP chief political consultant, said.
Duterte on Monday called for a truce with the CPP’s armed wing, the New People’s Army rebels as part of the government efforts to contain the fast spreading virus that already killed 12 and infected 140 across the country.