In a statement, the CPP and NPA said the ceasefire will take effect 12:01 a.m. on August 21 and end 11:59 p.m. on August 27.
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Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the suspension of the peace talks in 2005 after the communist rebels walked out of the negotiations in Norway, accusing the Philippine government of including the CPP and the NPA in the USA and European lists of foreign terrorist organizations.
Unlike the seven-day ceasefire declaration of the CPP-NPA-NDF, Dureza said the duration of the government’s ceasefire would last “for as long as necessary to bring peace in the land”.
“The success of the talks en route to a viable peace accord between the two governments in the Philippines rests in the main on GPH’s-especially the AFP, PNP and their paramilitaries’-adherence to previous agreements and the serious deliberation of the roots of the civil war”, it said.
“We hope that this ceasefire declaration will be reciprocated by the GRP as a show of all-out determination to move forward with peace negotiations”, said the CPP and NPA.
A self-described socialist, the 71-year-old has since appointed two left-leaning personalities to his cabinet and even initially vowed to form a coalition government with the rebels should the peace talks succeed.
Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza announced that President Rodrigo Duterte has restored the effects of unilateral ceasefire with the CPP, NPA and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
Under Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, peace talks stalled over the government’s refusal to heed a rebel demand for the release of some captured guerrillas.
He was joined in the pre-departure press conference by peace panel members Rene Sarmiento, Angelo Liderato-Trinidad, and Antonio Arellano.
“As we speak there is continuing efforts to make available in Oslo peace talks resumption as many of them as possible”, Dureza said, referring to the remaining political prisoners that will take part in the talks as “consultants”.
The Oslo talks are expected to tackle “social and economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms, end of hostilities and disposition of forces, ceasefire, joint security and immunity and release of political detainees”, according to Dureza.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has reimposed an indefinite cease-fire after communist guerrillas declared their own truce as both sides set the stage for a resumption of talks aimed at ending one of Asia’s longest-running rebellions.
“With their release, in addition to more than a dozen of NDF consultants earlier granted bail and already freed, one more stumbling block is removed”.
“As we all know, in full support for the orderly and effective conduct of the peace negotiations, President Duterte has caused the unprecedented and historical release from detention of 20 prisoners who are needed in the peace negotiations”, he said.
Meanwhile, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said echoed the President’s satisfaction with the CPP/NPA’s ceasefire declaration, calling it “a sign of sincerity to the peace process”.
The peace talks are scheduled for August 22 in Oslo, Norway.
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“The excitement of the local children at Singawan Elementary School in receiving their gifts turned into trauma because of a terrifying NPA ambush”, said the Army in a statement sent to newsmen.
