Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
The government peace panel is still optimistic that it can clinch a bilateral ceasefire agreement with the National Democratic Front (NDF) despite the New People’s Army (NPA) terminating its own unilateral ceasefire.
Secretary Silvestre Bello, chair of the Philippine government panel, said they “look forward to meeting with [their] NDF counterparts for the fourth round of talks … to discuss the possibility of a bilateral ceasefire agreement on February 22.”
Those were among the agreements approved during the third round of talks in Rome last month.
Bello said the panel has recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte that it maintain its own unilateral ceasefire.
“The last six months have given us a glimpse of the sort of peace that could emanate from the cessation of hostilities,” Bello said of the formal peace talks between the government and the NDF, which is the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
The CPP and its military wing, the NPA, officially terminated their unilateral ceasefire this week after the Philippine government failed to release all political prisoners.
READ: Communist rebels to terminate unilateral ceasefire
“The unilateral ceasefire declaration was issued on the mutual understanding with the GRP that such releases will take effect within 60 days of August 28,” the CPP said in its statement.
It also claimed that the military and the police took advantage of the ceasefire to “encroach” on the territory controlled by the NPA.
“They have subjected entire barrios to their armed presence and have committed widespread violations of human rights, such as occupation of people’s homes, barangay (village) halls, day care centers and other civilian structures,” the CPP said.
However, it said that it would continue to support the peace negotiations between the government and NDF panels.
“It is possible to negotiate while fighting until the substantive agreements are forged to address the roots of the armed conflict and lay the basis for a just and lasting peace,” CPP said in its statement.
On the other hand, Bello said the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police “shall continue to provide protection and relief from the potential renewal of violence resulting from the NPA’s recent declaration.”
READ: DND: Gov’t to continue ceasefire with NPA
Bello urged the public to call for a bilateral ceasefire and a chance to continue the peace negotiations. RAM/rga