Government, Reds sign joint ceasefire agreement

MANILA, Philippines — Government and communist rebel negotiators sealed on Wednesday night an agreement on an interim joint ceasefire that could lead to comprehensive settlement of the 48-year insurgency, one of the longest in the world.

Both parties are also moving fast to conclude the provisions of a draft of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) which are meant to address the causes of the armed rebellion.

Both panels believe that this agreement would lead to a better mechanism that would prevent the occurrence of violence between police and military personnel and the rebels on the ground.

The approved guidelines, which should take effect as soon as the ground rules are approved, will govern issues such as the presence of armed groups in local communities, creation of buffer zones, prohibition of hostile and provocative acts including the collection of so-called revolutionary taxes and the undertaking of socioeconomic projects.

The agreement also has a provision for the formation of a joint ceasefire committee and a possible third party to monitor the compliance of parties with the truce and other mechanisms such as handling of complaints and alleged violations.

The agreement said: “The Joint Ceasefire Agreement shall be deemed interim until a permanent ceasefire agreement is forged pursuant to a Comprehensive Agreement on End of Hostilities and Disposition of Forces.”

The agreement was hammered out following informal negotiations among the panel members of both sides. It also came after President Rodrigo Duterte lifted the government-declared unilateral truce in February following attacks by New People’s Army (NPA) guerillas on military personnel.

Government panel Chairperson Silvestre Bello III, panel members Hernani Braganza, Angela Librado, Rene Sarmiento and Antonio Arellano signed the joint ceasefire.

For the communist side, Chairperson Fidel Agcaoili and panel members Benito Tiamzon, Coni Ledesma, Julieta De Lima and Asterio Palma signed the agreement.

Presidential Adviser Jesus Dureza, Eduardo Pamintuan and Luis Jalandoni signed as observers.

Earlier in the day, both sides agreed to release political prisoners: four soldiers and a policeman held by the guerillas and 23 political detainees held by the government.