Gov’t optimistic on truce

The government peace panel is optimistic on forging a bilateral ceasefire with communist rebels after their separate ceasefire declarations continued to hold nearly a month after these were extended indefinitely.

Government chief negotiator and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III is hoping the bilateral ceasefire will be agreed upon when the two panels meet for the second round of peace negotiations in Norway on Oct. 4 to 10.

Bello hailed the continued silence of arms between the government and the communist rebels.

“It is indicative of the sincerity of both parties in the [peace] process which augurs well for peace,” he said in a statement.

Last Aug. 26, both sides concluded their first round of peace talks aimed at ending the 40-year communist insurgency.

The communist rebels decided to extend their unilateral ceasefire indefinitely in response to the government’s similar declaration earlier.

Both negotiating panels also agreed to reconcile and develop their separate ceasefire orders into a single unified bilateral document within 60 days.

Bello on Wednesday said the two sides had agreed to submit their respective drafts of the formal bilateral ceasefire agreement when they meet again next month.

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

The second round of peace talks is also expected to tackle the more substantive issues. Both parties will submit outlines and drafts of social and economic reforms and political and constitutional reforms.

They are also scheduled to discuss a proposed amnesty proclamation for detained members of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

According to the agreement signed in August, the government panel will “immediately recommend” to the President the issuance of an amnesty proclamation, subject to Congress’ concurrence, for the release of prisoners listed by the NDFP.