Gov't to maintain unilateral ceasefire amid NPA withdrawal

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process will recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte to continue to maintain and uphold the unilateral ceasefire despite the termination of the New People's Army (NPA).

The continuation of the unilateral ceasefire would sustain peace in communities, Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza said.

"This will provide an enabling and conducive environment to the ongoing peace talks," Dureza said in a statement.

The presidential peace adviser will also recommend that government forces continue its relentless campaign in protecting civilians from terrorism.

"We agree that the situation, with various incidents on the ground, had become untenable to sustain without the guidelines and protocols that a bilateral ceasefire provides," Dureza said.

NPA spokesperson Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos announced the withdrawal of a ceasefire with the government due to the failure to release political prisoners and the military's alleged encroachment on their territory.

Dureza has expressed dismay over the announcement of the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

The NPA's cancellation of the unilateral ceasefire came after the third round of peace talks in Rome, Italy.

During the formal talks in Rome, both parties agreed to further discuss a bilateral ceasefire on the fourth round of peace talks in the Hague, Netherlands later this month.

"Despite these, however, we are still hopeful that the search for peace will continue and the tragedy of Filipinos fighting fellow Filipinos will come to an early end," the presidential peace adviser said.

Even before the latest announcement, the military counted nine rebel attacks since Sunday, including an ambush that killed two soldiers in northern Isabela and a raid on an upscale resort in Batangas province, southwest of the capital, where the guerrillas carted away security guards' firearms.

The rebels said the government had not complied with its obligation to declare an amnesty for the insurgents and release about 200 rebel prisoners under an earlier agreement.

Battle setbacks, surrenders and infighting have weakened the rebel group, which is considered a terrorist organization by the United States.

Sporadic fighting has left about 40,000 combatants and civilians dead. — with reports from Associated Press