MANILA:In the spirit of Christmas, the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) agreed to a 16-day nationwide ceasefire.
In declaring the ceasefire,CPP said it would take effect from yesterday till 11.59pm on Jan 7.
According to the Manila Times, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo announced that President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered a reciprocal ceasefire for the same period.
Duterte also ordered the revival of the government’s negotiating team with the communists, naming Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as among its members.
The last time a Christmas ceasefire was declared by both sides was in 2016.
The CPP’s Central Committee issued a nationwide ceasefire order to all New People’s Army commanders, units and so-called people’s militias.
CPP said the ceasefire order ‘shall take effect upon issuance of the corresponding and reciprocal ceasefire orders in the form of Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) and Suspension of Police Operations (SOPO) to be issued by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP)’.
Negotiators for the government and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) recommended on Sunday a ceasefire between their forces for Christmas.
‘During the ceasefire period, the respective armed units and personnel of the parties shall cease and desist from carrying out offensive military operations against the other,’ the statement read.
The truce is in line with efforts by both sides to set up a ‘positive environment’ for the holding of informal talks before the resumption of peace negotiations.
‘These shall be measures of goodwill and confidence building during the traditional celebrations of Christmas and New Year holidays,’the statement said.
However, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he was unaware of the recommendation by the two panels.
‘We are unaware of this agreement between (Labour) Secretary (Silvestre) Bello and (NDFP senior adviser Luis) Jalandoni. We await advice from the Palace.’
Lorenzana had consistently rejected declaring a ceasefire during the holiday season, saying it was ‘disadvantageous’ to the government.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano said it would be up to Duterte to agree to a unilateral ceasefire during the Christmas and New Year break, but he would ‘abide by whatever he decides’.
The recommendation for a holiday truce follows Duterte’s order to Bello to lay the groundwork for the resumption of negotiations with communist rebels.
House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Party-list Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate welcomed the recommendation for a ceasefire.
‘This will augur well in creating the favourable environment necessary for the resumption of the cancelled peace talks between the GRP and NDFP, which is long awaited by our people.’