The Philippine national government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), the political arm for the Communist Party of the Philippines, yesterday agreed to recommend a 15-day ceasefire as part of the Christmas and New Year’s Day holiday.
In a joint statement signed by Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who represented Philippine Government, and NDF Senior Adviser Luis Jalandoni, they agreed to recommend to their respective parties the issuance of a unilateral and reciprocal nationwide ceasefire, which begins this morning and runs until 11:59 p.m. on January 7, 2020.
During the ceasefire, government forces and the NDF’s armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), will stop all of their offensives with each other.
Meanwhile, the NPA in Negros announced they would cease attacks earlier Monday morning in accordance with the recommendations.
Both sides stated the ceasefire is intended to generate a “positive environment conducive to talks” and “aims to formally resume peace negotiations.”
The said statement was witnessed and signed by Kristina Lie Revheim, a third party facilitator on behalf of the Norwegian government.
As of press time, the Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division has not yet commented if they have received orders to cease military actions against the NPA./DGB, WDJ