Decision on ceasefire up to Duterte—Dureza

President Rodrigo. AFP FILE PHOTO / NOEL CELIS

“We leave the ultimate decision to the President,” said Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza on Wednesday hours after the New People’s Army (NPA) announced the termination of the unilateral ceasefire.

The peace adviser was in Cagayan de Oro for the anniversary ceremony of the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division.

Dureza, however, said he and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana would recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte to maintain the ceasefire on the part of the government.

“From a war advisor to a peace advisor, we will recommend to the President that we still maintain the unilateral ceasefire as far as government is concerned,” he said.

On Wednesday, the NPA announced the termination of the unilateral ceasefire effective February 10.

READ: After attacks, NPA ending ceasefire — rebel official

“And the reason for this is because they are taking to task our President for not delivering of what they are saying as a commitment to release all their political prisoners,” Dureza said.

He, however, said Duterte could not just order their release since they were facing criminal charges.

“The problem is they are all facing criminal charges in court and the President cannot just order the opening of the prison to let them go. There are judicial processes that must be observed.

“Unfortunately, they have used this as a basis,” he said.

Despite the NPA’s termination of the unilateral ceasefire, Dureza said the government would continue with the peace talks.

He said the government peace panel also wanted to have a bilateral ceasefire agreement similar to the Bangsamoro ceasefire.

“That is the reason why we insisted that if we want a sustainable ceasefire, we must go into a bilateral agreement where you have monitors, independent monitors, you have mechanisms and you have bases when you call a violation,” he said.

“Unfortunately in Rome we did not succeed in getting that agreement. But we are looking at the end of February as another oppurtunity,” he added.

In a statement, Dureza said he was “dismayed” with the decision of the NPA to terminate the unilateral ceasefire but added “we respect their decision.”

READ: Communist rebels to terminate unilateral ceasefire

He reiterated that they would recommend to Duterte that “the government continues to maintain and uphold the unilateral ceasefire to sustain the peace in the communities where our people desire to live in peace.”

“This will provide an enabling and conducive environment to the on-going peace talks. At the same, we will recommend that government forces continue to be relentless in their campaign to protect the civilians from harm and terrorism,” he said.

The peace adviser said the government was “still hopeful that the search for peace will continue and the tragedy of Filipinos fighting fellow Filipinos will come to an early end.”

“As we always stress, the road to peace is not easy to traverse. What is important is that we all stay the course,” he said. RAM