Philippines, rebels want peace talks despite feud over truce

Sanchez said that government forces have continued to undertake combat operations, surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence and psychological warfare in civilian communities, and alleged that troops were protecting “illegal activities such as drug trade and logging and mining pay-offs”.

“We urge both parties to look into instruments that can independently investigate and prevent potential ceasefire violations”, the group added.

Sulong CARHRIHL is a network of 59 organizations throughout the country which has been advocating for a peaceful resolution to the almost five-decade Maoist rebellion.

Duterte has been making peace overtures to the NDF since he started to campaign for this year’s presidential election.

“By going on active defense, the NPA sought to help promote an atmosphere favorable to peace talks without sacrificing the safety of the NPA and the peasant masses”, the CPP said.

“It was in our agenda when the formal peace talks resume in Oslo”.

In an interview with local television ABS-CBN, communist leader Jose Maria Sison said the rebels were planning to declare a ceasefire by 1000 GMT, or three hours after Duterte’s deadline. “We are prepared to go to Oslo already for the official talks”.

“All of us want peace, not the peace of the dead, but the peace of the living”.

“We may work out a negotiated truce with the Communists”, Jesus Dureza, presidential peace adviser, told Reuters.

Until the Kapalong incident, the relations between Mr. Duterte and the country’s communist leaders have been warm.

While the New People’s Army in the south was ready to reciprocate Duterte’s cease-fire, “it can not be harangued to reciprocate a unilateral cease-fire order that is overtly mocked by the Armed Forces of the Philippines hierarchy and its ground troops and paramilitary forces”, Sanchez said.

Asked by media if he would reinstate the unilateral ceasefire, Duterte said he has not yet made a decision.

On July 29, the CPP Information Bureau announced that the CPP Central Committee would release a statement on reciprocal ceasefire declaration by 8 p.m.

“To immediately stop violence on the ground, restore peace in the communities and provide an enabling environment conducive to the resumption of peace negotiations, I am announcing a unilateral ceasefire with the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front effective immediately”, Duterte said during his first State of the Nation Address.

Days earlier, he lashed at the communist movement for ambushing militiamen returning to their base in compliance with the government truce last Wednesday in Davao del Norte.

The Philippine military said the NPA has an estimated 4,000 members. “NPA Red fighters immediately disengaged after disabling the enemy unit from carrying out further offensive action”, the party’s statement also said.

These armed militia units, she added, are also part of AFP’s deception.

“Acting as force multipliers of the AFP, paramilitary groups still operate under the command of the Philippine Army”.

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. August 20 is the resumption of the peace talks.

The CPP also noted that a truce with the government was “non-existent” because a “mutually signed ceasefire agreement” had yet to be inked.