Duterte gives communist rebels ultimatum to respond to truce

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

President Rodrigo Duterte is bent to lift the unilateral ceasefire with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) if the communist group won’t heed to the government’s call.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Duterte was “disappointed and exasperated” that the CPP has not reciprocated with a ceasefire.

READ: Duterte to communists: Do you want a truce or a fight?

“According to Secretary (Jesus) Dureza, PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Dutertet) is disappointed and exasperated that the CPP/NPA (New People’s Army)/NDF (National Democratic Front) has not adequately responded with their own unilateral ceasefire, and is giving them up till 5 o’clock Saturday to issue their own declaration,” Abella said in a statement on Saturday.

He said the government was committed to achieve lasting peace but said it was “urgent to immediately stop fighting on the ground.”

“It is urgent to immediately stop fighting on the ground to spare the civilians the rigors of conflict and for both government and the communists to start working together for peace,” he said.

The Palace official said Duterte, who on his State of the Nation Address on Monday declared unilateral ceasefire with the Left, was firm to lift it if the CPP won’t respond by 5 p.m. Saturday.

READ: Duterte announces unilateral ceasefire with communist rebels

“We urge the leaders of the CPP-NPA-NDF to respond accordingly,” he said.

On Thursday, Duterte demanded an explanation from the NPA after a government militiaman was killed and four others were wounded in an ambush in Davao del Norte by the rebel group.

He threatened to cancel the ceasefire agreement if the CPP would fail to give an explanation and reciprocate the unilateral ceasefire. IDL

RELATED VIDEOS