No reports of clashes as truce between Reds, PH gov’t holds

The ceasefire between the Philippine government and the communist rebels remains holding with no reports of major clashes and incidents after almost a month since the resumption of peace negotiations, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process said on Wednesday.

“It is indicative of the sincerity of both parties in the (peace) process which augurs well for peace,” government’s chief negotiator and Labor Secretary Silvestro ‘Bebot’ Bello III said in a statement.

He is also optimistic that a bilateral agreement will be reached when the next round of peace negotiations resumed on Oct. 4 to 10 in Oslo, Norway.

Both the government and the National Democratic Front declared their own ceasefire during the resumption of peace talks late last month.

“This indefinite unilateral ceasefire from the NPA (New People’s Army) is considered ‘historic and unprecedented.’ The NPA said it is inspired by the release of the 22 detained NDF consultants, the most number of prisoners released by the government to date,” the OPAPP said.

READ: Gov’t, Reds OK signing of indefinite ceasefire

The two parties have agreed to submit drafts for the formal bilateral ceasefire agreement in the next round of peace talks

“Hopefully, this will ripen to a bilateral and permanent ceasefire and finally the end of hostilities,” Bello said.

The two parties will also tackle the proposed amnesty proclamation for all listed detained members of the NDF, and the cessation of hostilities and disposition of forces.

The two parties have agreed to accelerate the peace process until a final peace agreement is signed within a year, OPAPP said. CDG