Statement from Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus G. Dureza on the Unilateral Ceasefire
After President Duterte ordered last night the lifting of the government’s unilateral ceasefire, the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/ National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF) announced through the media its belated but still strategic and awaited decision to also declare its own unilateral ceasefire.
Indeed, this is a welcome development. It affirms the value of the President’s firm actions for peace. This is what we have been waiting for.
Let me state the chronological facts.
On 25 July during the State of the Nation Address (SONA), the President declared a unilateral ceasefire with the CPP/NPA/NDF “in order to stop violence on the ground, safeguard the citizenry, and provide an enabling environment for the resumption of peace negotiation.”
Consistent with previous unilateral ceasefires, like during Christmas holidays, there was high expectation that the National Democratic Front would forthwith and immediately announce also its own as positive response to the President’s declaration. This was precisely the reason for the President’s statement in the SONA that he was calling on and expecting the NDF “to respond accordingly”.
The following day, July 26, the NDF, instead of issuing its expected declaration said they could not do so as yet as they were waiting for the precise written orders on the ceasefire. In immediate response, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and subsequently the Philippine National Police issued their respective policy guidance in writing on how they would carry on with a ceasefire in place. Copies thereof were sent immediately to the NDF in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Yet, in spite of this, there was still no declaration from them.
The following day, July 27, a fire fight happened between the NPAs and elements of the AFP civilian auxiliary in Davao del Norte resulting to the death of a civilian auxiliary force member and the wounding of 3 others. The President then called on the CPP/NPA/NDF again to explain why this happened in the midst of his ceasefire declaration.
He gave the NDF the end of the following day, July 28, to do so. Still the expected declaration was not issued.
The following day, July 29, during the President’s visit in a military camp in Asuncion, Davao del Norte, he lamented the unnecessary loss of lives and publicly asked again the NDF to issue its own declaration of unilateral ceasefire to avoid similar incidents to happen. Although already obviously disappointed and exasperated, he announced 5 o’clock the following day, July 30, as a final deadline otherwise he would lift the government’s ceasefire in order to further secure the civilians and secure the peace.
By 5 o’clock in the afternoon of July 30, the final deadline the President announced lapsed and still there was no declaration from the NDF.
But the President still patiently waited.
In the meantime, disturbing messages from the ranks of the NPA were monitored. Its Southern Mindanao Regional Command claimed the government’s unilateral ceasefire was “non-existent” as it also blamed the AFP as “sabotaging” the ceasefire. Its leadership also belittled the efforts of the President, saying that he could not dictate on the revolutionaries.
By 7pm, knowing that an unanswered ceasefire declaration was not for the best interest of the nation, the President then authorized the release of a statement declaring the lifting of the ceasefire.
However, after an hour thereafter, past the deadline and evidently informed of the President’s announced position, the NDF publicly stated in the media that it was already ready to issue its own corresponding ceasefire declaration.
From the above, it is very clear that the President walked the extra mile for peace. And no doubt, he will still continue to do so at any given opportunity.
I will make my corresponding recommendations to the President and the whole Cabinet tomorrow Monday, August 1, during the scheduled Cabinet meeting in the afternoon.
* Posted on Sunday, Jul 31st, 2016:
http://www.opapp.gov.ph/cpp-npa-ndf/news/statement-presidential-peace-adviser-jesus-g-dureza-unilateral-ceasefire
Statement of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
Let me now announce that I am hereby ordering for the immediate lifting of the unilateral ceasefire that I ordered last July 25 against the communist rebels.
Correspondingly, I am ordering the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Phil National Police to also withdraw the operational guidelines they issued in pursuance to that ceasefire declaration.
I am ordering all security forces to be on high alert and continue to discharge their normal functions and mandate to neutralize all threats to national security, protect the citizenry, enforce the laws and maintain peace in the land.
* http://www.opapp.gov.ph/cpp-npa-ndf/news/statement-president-rodrigo-roa-duterte
GPH panel press release on the recent NPA ambush in DavNor
Posted on Friday, Jul 29th, 2016
GPH Panel Chair Secretary Silvestre Bello III expressed sadness over the ambush yesterday of government troops by members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Sitio Patil, Barangay Gupitan, Davao del Norte.
“It is disheartening that the NPA failed to respect the unilateral ceasefire declared by President Duterte last Monday during the SONA. Barely two days after this ceasefire declaration, the NPA ambushed yesterday government forces killing one CAFGU member and wounding four others in Davao del Norte”.
Sec. Bello said that he confronted NDF Panel member Fidel Agcaoili on this tragic incident and he was informed that as far as he knows, the NPA is on active defense mode since July 26 as announced by Ka Oris. He, however, promised Sec. Bello to look into the matter. The GPH Panel Chair said that government will await the results of NDF’s verification on the matter.
Agcaoli further said that, just like PRRD, the NDFP is committed to resume the peace negotiations to address the roots of the armed conflict towards a just and lasting peace as reiterated in the 15 June 2016 Oslo Joint Statement that affirms all past agreements.
“I strongly reiterate the call of President Duterte to the CPP/NPA/NDF to reciprocate government’s ceasefire declaration in order to immediately stop violence on the ground, protect our communities from conflict, and provide an enabling environment for the resumption of formal peace negotiations”.
Sec. Bello made this appeal and stressed that as both sides continue to undertake preparations for the re-starting of formal talks on August 20-27 in Oslo, it is best that the government’s ceasefire is reciprocated unconditionally by the NDF to build trust and confidence on the peace process and more importantly bring peace in our communities for the good of the people.
* Posted on Saturday, Jul 30th, 2016
(released as of 7 PM tonite by Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza):
http://www.opapp.gov.ph/cpp-npa-ndf/news/gph-panel-press-release-recent-npa-ambush-davnor
Duterte declares unilateral ceasefire with communist rebels
GPH PEACE PANEL. Government peace panel for the talks with the NDFP takes oath in front of President Rodrigo Duterte (center) on Monday, July 18, in Malacañan Palace. The members of the panel are (from right): Angela Librado, Noel Felongco, Rene Sarmiento, and Hernani Braganza. Witnessing the oath are (from left): Senate President Koko Pimintel; Speaker of the House of Representatives Pantaleon Alvarez; Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza; and Labor Secretary and GPH panel chair Silvestre Bello III.
PASIG CITY—President Rodrigo R. Duterte announced on Monday, July 25, a unilateral ceasefire with the communist rebels to be effective immediately.
“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,” said President Duterte during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) held in Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.
The President urged the communist rebels “to end these decades of ambuscades and skirmishes” describing them to be “getting bloodier by the day.”
“Let me make this appeal to you, if we cannot as yet, love one another, then in God’s name, let us not hate each other too much,” he added.
Still firm on his principle of inclusivity, President Duterte also appealed to our Moro brothers and sisters, alongside the communist rebels, to stop the fighting and help realize their shared desire for peace.
Ready to reciprocate
The President during his SONA also asked the “NDF and its forces [the NPAs] to respond accordingly” to his call.
In a letter addressed to Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, chair of the government peace panel negotiating with the NDF, sent immediately after the President’s SONA, NDF peace panel chair Luis Jalandoni welcomed the President’s announcement of the unilateral ceasefire and declared the NDFP’s own readiness to reciprocate as soon as they receive the full text of the ceasefire declaration.
The communist group also gave the assurance that “NDFP shared with President Duterte the determination to work for a just and lasting peace” in the country.
Jalandoni also looked forward to the resumption of the formal talks in August where both panels are expected to “exchange ceasefire declarations in order to discuss and agree further on how to make them effective.”
Road to peace
Earlier, President Duterte approved the peace roadmap for the country, which included the resumption of peace negotiations with the said communist group.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus G. Dureza explained that the parties are looking at August 20 for the resumption of the formal round of negotiations in Oslo, Norway. The Royal Norwegian Government will continue serving as talks’ third party facilitator.
At the same time, the President directed the Secretary of Justice and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs “to do everything within its power and authority” to effect the temporary release and travel of some CPP/NPA/NDF personalities who will participate in the Oslo talks pursuant to the previously signed Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees or JASIG.
Leading the government negotiating panel is Secretary Bello, with panel members former Agrarian Reform Secretary Hernani Braganza; former Commission on Elections Commissioner Rene Sarmiento; and lawyers Noel Felongco, and Angela Librado.
Prior to his formal assumption in office, Duterte sent a team composed of Dureza, Bello, and Braganza to hold preliminary meetings with the NDF panel to discuss the reopening of the peace talks and its agenda.
* Posted on Tuesday, Jul 26th, 2016:
http://www.opapp.gov.ph/cpp-npa-ndf/news/duterte-declares-unilateral-ceasefire-communist-rebels