Silvestre Bello. INQUIRER.net PHOTO/Nestor Corrales
DAVAO CITY—The Philippine government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) will declare a “unilateral ceasefire” once the formal peace talks between the two parties begin, incoming Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said on Tuesday.
“(We) agreed that after the formal resumption of the peace talks, both parties will declare a unilateral ceasefire,” Bello said.
Bello said the formal talks would probably start on the third week of July or before the first State of the Nation Address of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.
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The results of the exploratory talks in Norway with the CPP were “very positive,” Bello said. CDG/rga
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