“To immediately stop violence on the ground, restore peace in the communities and provide enabling environment conducive to the resumption of the peace talks, I am now announcing a unilateral ceasefire with the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front) effective immediately”, Duterte said.
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“Let me make this appeal to you: If we can not, as yet, love one another, then in God’s name, let us not hate each other too much so it was said”.
MORE than 50 drug suspects were killed in the Philippines in the two days leading up to President Rodrigo Duterte’s first State of the Nation Address on Monday, raising the death toll to almost 300 since the premier took office on June 30.
“To police officers, or PNP officials, do your job and you will have unwavering support of Office of President, I will be with you all the way”, he noted.
Since March 1969, the NPA has been waging one of Asia’s longest running insurgencies, which – according to the military – has claimed more than 3,000 lives over the past eight years.
“The commander-in-chief has initiated a very bold move and we fully support him in his effort to bring sustainable and lasting peace”, military spokesman Brig.
But he also said, in connection with the Abu Sayyaf terror threat in the South: “I want to hear from the MI (LF) and MN (LF) that they do not have any connections with the Abu Sayyaf. because if they still have a connection with the Abu Sayyaf, I don’t think there will be significant result”.
“The NPA and all revolutionary forces will closely observe how President Duterte’s declaration is carried out by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and whether there will be a clear termination of military operations being carried out under the US-designed Oplan Bayanihan counter-insurgency war of suppression”, Madlos said. It also has stalled economic development, especially in the countryside, where the Maoist insurgents have had an active presence. “What’s new with this president is he’s ready to dialogue with the people and he does not hide behind container vans, barbed wires and thousands of anti-riot policemen”.
He struck some conciliatory notes, specifically over the simmering conflict between the Philippines government and communist rebels that has killed some 30,000 people in the past five decades.
“If there are people who are happy with ceasefire and peace talks with communist rebels, that’s us, soldiers, and our respective families because we have sacrificed much for our country”, said Lt. Col. Luzmindo Mamaug Jr., spokesperson of the Cebu City-based Central Command. A rebel leader in self-exile in Europe, Jose Maria Sison, plans to fly home soon to meet Duterte.
“Let me say this, all of us want peace”, Duterte said. Sison, now the chief political consultant of the NDF, has been living in exile in the Netherlands since peace talks failed in 1987.
Other estimates of the body count are far higher and human rights groups are outraged.
Also nicknamed “Duterte Harry” for his zero tolerance approach to crime, Mr Duterte reiterated his warnings about drugs in the nationally broadcast speech, describing the country’s rampant narcotics problem – including monumental rates of methamphetamine use – as “staggering and scary”.
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The NPA, however, would closely monitor the government’s observance of Duterte’s ceasefire order, he said.
