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Duterte declares unilateral ceasefire with communists

Philstar.com

July 25, 2016 | 6:00pm

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE 1 8:06 p.m.) — President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the military to implement a unilateral ceasefire with the New People's Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Duterte said it is ironic and tragic to enter into peace talks and yet "load our guns, fix our sights and pull the trigger."

"All of us want peace. Not the peace of the dead but the peace of the living," he said.

Duterte talked about casualties of encounters between the military and communists. The president said that both sides praise the heroism of their fighters who die in clashes, but all he could see are the grieving widows and the orphans.

"[I] feel their pain and grief and no amount of cash assistance or the number of medals can compensate the loss of the human life."

Duterte called for an end to skirmishes and ambushes of the NPA which he said is getting bloodier by the day. He declared a truce to immediately stop violence on the ground, restore peace in communities and create an environment conducive to the resumption of peace talks.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the unilateral ceasefire was the big announcement he referred to before.

"[Y]un yung sinasabi ko na posibleng maging pinakamalaking istorya and I'm sure you guys agree.... [W]hen was the last ceasefire that we had, panahon pa yata ni Cory yung ceasefire with the [NDFP]," he said.

Andanar added that Duterte asked CPP founder Joma Sison to respond to the truce, accordingly.

The ceasefire was supposed to be discussed in August when negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the CPP's political arm, resumes. The talks will happen in Norway with the Norwegian government serving as the third-party facilitator.

Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza said the resumption of talks is a milestone after it was halted in 2013 due to disagreements on the freeing of jailed rebels.

The NDFP argued jailed rebels should be released as they are covered by the 1995 Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees, which prohibits the arrest and detention of peace consultants.

The Duterte administration, however, said it would release imprisoned rebels who would participate in the negotiations. A total of 11 detained communists may be freed to enable them to take part in the negotiations.

Causes of rebellion

Duterte also vowed to solve the cause of rebellion including the lack of development in the countryside.

“We will vigorously address the grievances that have been time and again expressed, not only by the Bangsamoro, indigenous peoples and other groups for security, development, fair access to decision-making and acceptance of identities,” the president said.

“Enduring peace can only be attained only if we meet these fundamental needs of every man, woman and child,” he added.

Duterte assured Moros and communists that the government is bent on attaining lasting peace.

He said the sorrow caused by the loss of lives “cuts across every stratum of society” and leads to pain that lasts forever.

“That is why, I reach out to you, to all of you today. To our Muslim brothers, let us end the centuries of mistrust and warfare. To the CPP-NPA-NDF, let us end these decades of ambuscades and skirmishes,” he said.

Hunt down Abus

While Duterte is open to talks with the NDF and Moro groups, he vowed to put an end to the activities of local terrorist group Abu Sayyaf.

"Since our country continues to be confronted with internal security threats aggravated by the existence and activities of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, the full force of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) will be applied to crush these criminals who operate under the guise of religious fervor," Duterte said.

"The AFP shall enhance its capability to search and engage these rogue and lawless elements," he added. — Video editing by RP Ocampo