Reds declare interim unilateral ceasefire starting Aug. 28

BAGUIO CITY — The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the National Operational Command of the New People’s Army (NPA) declared an interim ceasefire “to all commands and units of the NPA and people’s militias” citing the positive outcome of the initial talks in Oslo on Aug. 22-26.

 

The declaration is in line with the recommendation of the negotiating panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and in pursuit of the Aug. 26 joint statement of the NDFP and Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) on the resumption of formal peace negotiations.

 

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The CPP added that the ceasefire is being issued “to further promote peace negotiations between the NDFP and the GRP and boost efforts to accelerate it” and as a reciprocal gesture to the indefinite ceasefire issued by President Rodrigo Duterte last Aug. 21.

 

It said the ceasefire “is further encouraged by the prospective release of all political prisoners and remaining detained consultants of the NDFP through the issuance of an Amnesty Proclamation by the GRP President.”

 

The ceasefire takes effect on Sunday (Aug. 28) and will remain valid during the course of peace negotiations until it is replaced by a unified bilateral ceasefire agreement by the NDFP and the GRP within 60 days from the date of the joint statement or until a notice of termination of the ceasefire declaration takes effect 10 days after receipt of said notice by the GRP negotiating panel from the NDFP negotiating panel.

 

The CPP said the revolutionary forces in the Philippines look forward to vibrant talks

in the course of the next few months to discuss social and economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms and the end of hostilities and disposition of forces.

The CPP said that during the interim ceasefire period “all NPA units and people’s militia shall cease and desist from carrying out offensive military campaigns and operations against the uniformed armed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) of the GRP.”

 

It added that military and policemen who have no serious liabilities other than their membership in their armed units “shall not be subjected to arrest or punitive actions.”

 

Meanwhile, it said that all units of the NPA and the people’s militias shall be on defensive mode at both the strategic and tactical levels.

 

This means that despite the ceasefire, they shall maintain a high degree of militancy and vigilance against any hostile action, provocation or movement against them.

 

It said, however, that active defense actions shall be undertaken only in the face of clear and imminent danger and actual armed attack by the enemy forces and only after exhausting counter-maneuvers to avoid armed encounters.