Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella. TOTO LOZANO/Presidential Photo
The ceasefire agreement with the communist rebels is not losing ground despite the recent clash between state troops and the New People’s Army (NPA) in North Cotabato over the weekend, Malacañang said Monday.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the clash would not affect the ongoing peace talks of the government with the communists.
“No, it should not affect any of the ongoing talks,” he told reporters in an interview.
Abella said the ceasefire was still in effect “simply because the talks are ongoing and we are intent and focusing on settling the matters.”
Over the weekend, government forces and communist guerrillas clashed in Makilala town in North Cotabato.
The rebels claimed that eight soldiers were killed but the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday denied the claim, saying there were no casualties in the said encounter.
READ: 8 soldiers, NPA rebel killed in North Cotabato clash amid Rome peace talks
“I don’t know where they got that information. It’s a hoax,” Lt. Col. Harold Argamosa, commanding officer of the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion, told INQUIRER.net by phone.
READ: Army denies NPA killed 8 soldiers in North Cotabato clash
Despite the conflicting statements, Abella said he would stick to the information coming from the AFP.
Government peace negotiators are currently in Rome for the third round of peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF). RAM/rga