“Jalandoni assumed that the GRP ceasefire declaration … is necessarily connected with the release of all current political prisoners under the amnesty proclamation to be issued by President Duterte and concurred in by a majority of Congress”, it added, pointing to such arrangement under the Oslo Joint Statement between Duterte’s peace negotiators and the NDF on June 15.
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“All of us want peace”, Duterte said.
“As long as President Duterte turns a blind eye to – or implicitly or explicitly encourages – summary killings, the fundamental right to life of all Filipinos is at risk from potentially random extrajudicial violence”, said Phelim Kine, deputy director in Asia of the USA -based watchdog Human Rights Watch.
The President told the soldiers that as a septuagenarian, he dreams of lasting peace for Mindanao and the entire country.
He now awaits the reply of Jose Maria Sison on this ceasefire agreement.
Army spokesman Capt. Rhyan Batchar said in a statement: “We have ordered our line units to stop all offensive operations against the NPA effective immediately without sacrificing the security and safety of our troops and the security of all vital facilities, installations and population center”.
Peace negotiations with the NDF started in 1986 under the Cory Aquino administration resulting in a bilateral ceasefire that was cut short by the Mendiola Massacre in January 1987. He said he hopes to have peace by the time he retires and steps down from office.
The CPP said the Duterte’s appeal for the NPA to cease ambuscades “can immediately be reciprocated”.
“Such attacks against civilians are often justified by the apologists of the United States counter-insurgency dogma”, it said.
He said the conflict with the armed groups has gone on for too long. We need to have a strong Armed Forces.
Visaya said government troops shall also cease “combat maneuvers that may be construed as provocative acts that may be deemed violative of the SOMO”.
He also urged the rebels to do the same.
“Luis Jalandoni, chairperson of the Negotiating Panel fo the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), wrote today to Secretary Silvestre Bello III, chairman of the Negotiation Panel of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, welcoming President Duterte’s announcement in his SONA that he is ordering the unilateral ceasefire of the AFP and PNP in relation to the NPA”, the statement said.
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He said some of the firearms used by the Abu Sayyaf were owned by the MNLF and the MILF.
