Gov’t, NDF OK 27-day ceasefire

MANILA, Philippines - The government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) have agreed on a 27-day nationwide ceasefire.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles said the ceasefire started yesterday and will end on Jan. 15.

It is the longest bilateral ceasefire declaration so far, she added.

“The agreement was a result of a meeting on the special track between the government and the NDF from Dec. 17 to 18 at The Hague,” Deles said.

Government peace negotiator Alexander Padilla said the government and NDF peace panels continue to discuss several issues, including a possible truce.

“We agreed to discuss the forging of a Common Declaration of National Unity and Just Peace, which upon signing by the parties will trigger the immediate implementation of a truce,” he said.

Padilla said Royal Norwegian Ambassador Ture Lundh facilitated the meeting.

Padilla said they also agreed to exchange comments on their drafts of the Common Declaration and to meet early next year to work towards its finalization.

The government and NDF peace panels also agreed to resume talks on “further upholding national independence, democracy and human rights; committee of national unity, peace and development; agrarian reform, rural development and national industrialization,” he added.

Padilla said the issue of prisoner release was not discussed during the meeting on the Special Track.

“The GPH (Government of the Philippines) reiterated that this (prisoner release) is not a proper subject of the Special Track which should not be burdened by any preconditions as earlier agreed by the parties,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deles extended her gratitude to the Norwegian facilitator.

“We thank the Royal Norwegian Government for its untiring efforts in supporting the peace negotiations,” Deles said.

Joining Padilla were Office of the Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs (OPAPA) Secretary Ronald Llamas, peace panel member Efren Moncupa, OPAPA Undersecretary Chito Gascon, and GPH panel secretariat head Carla Villarta.

The NDF were represented by Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison, NDF Negotiating Panel chair Luis Jalandoni, NDF panel members Fidel Agcaoili and Coni Ledesma, consultants Vicente Ladlad and Edre Olalia, and NDF panel secretariat head Ruth de Leon.