‘Officials may discuss with Duterte extension of ceasefire’

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is leaving it to the government task force on armed conflict to discuss with President Duterte the possible extension of the ceasefire with communist rebels.

The Communist Party of the Philippines has extended its ceasefire until April 30, the last day of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, citing the need to prioritize efforts against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The ceasefire was supposed to end last April 15. 

The communists declared a ceasefire with the government last March 16, reciprocating the suspension of offensives announced by the Duterte administration that started last March 19 and ended on April 15. 

“On whether government would extend the unilateral ceasefire, this matter is something the National Task Force on Ending Local Armed Conflict can discuss with the President,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement over the weekend. 

Roque said while the call for peace is “everyone’s desire” and “has become more urgent in the present state of calamity and public health emergency,” there have been violations of the ceasefire by the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the communists.

“We find it, however, unfortunate that members of the New People’s Army themselves violated their own declaration of truce in the form of violent armed encounters with government troops,” the Palace spokesman said. 

Roque cited reports stating that the rebels seized relief goods intended for residents of Barangay Guinmayohan in Eastern Samar last April 17. However, there were also reports quoting Balangiga officials as saying that such incident did not take place. 

Last month, Malacañang assailed the NPA for allegedly attacking soldiers in Rodriguez, Rizal. A soldier and a rebel were killed during the incident, according to military reports.

Communists have also accused government forces of committing atrocities during the ceasefire. Last week, the National Democratic Front, which represents the rebels in the peace negotiations, said it has written a letter to the United Nations accusing the government of carrying out 13 attacks from March 16 to April 15. Roque has expressed confidence that the UN would ignore the letter.