NPA urged to extend truce until May polls
VICE presidential candidate and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero wants the ceasefire between the government and the communist rebels extended until the May 2016 elections.
The New People’s Army (NPA) earlier declared a 12-day holiday ceasefire with government forces from December 23, 2015 to January 3, 2016 in solidarity with the traditional celebrations of Christmas and New Year of the Filipino.
READ: NPA declares 12-day Yuletide ceasefire
“Nais kong ipanawagan at ipanukala sa pamahalaan at saka sa CPP, NPA and NDF na iyong ceasefire na ipinapairal nila sa ngayon hanggang sa New Year, sana baka pwede namang mapag-usapan nila na panatilihin na iyan hanggang sa darating ng eleksyon,” Escudero said in an interview in Quezon City on Tuesday.
CPP is the Communist Party of the Philippines and the NDF is National Democratic Front.
Escudero said extending the ceasefire until the election day would unburden the government, especially amid continued tension between the Philippines and China over the disputed West Philippine Sea.
Article continues after this advertisement“Mas maganda siguro tumigil talaga muna ang patayan ng kapwa Pilipino at harapin muna natin iyong mga hamon at pagsubok kaugnay ng mga dayuhan na tila nag pupursige na awayin o makipag away sa atin o hindi tanggapin anumang desisyon ng International Tribunal kaugnay ng isyu ng West Philippine Sea,” he said.
“Paano kapag manalo ang China sabi nila hindi nila tatanggapin?” the senator said, apparently referring to the case on the sea row before the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration.
