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By APD writer Melo M. Acuña
The Philippine government represented by Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III and former Agrarian Reform Secretary Hernani A. Braganza and the National Democratic Front with Senior Adviser Luis G. Jalandoni and negotiating panel Chairperspn Fidel V. Agcaoili released a joint statement late yesterday recommending to their respective principals the issuance of unilateral and reciprocal nationwide ceasefires from 12:00 midnight on December 23 2019 to 11:59 P.M. of January 7,2020.
In their statement, both parties will separately issue corresponding ceasefire orders and during the ceasefire period, their respective armed units and personnel of the parties shall “cease and desist from carrying out offensive military operations against the other.”
“The ceasefires are intended to generate a positive environment conducive to the holding of informal talks preparatory to the formal meeting to resume the peace negotiations,” the joint statement said. Considered as “measures of goodwill and confidence building during the traditional celebrations of Christmas and New Year holidays” in the Philippines where most Filipinos return home to be with their families.
The joint statement was signed yesterday in Utrecht, The Netherlands and witnessed by Kristina Lie Revheim, Third Party Facilitator of the Royal Norwegian Government.
The armed component of the National Democratic Front (NDF), the New People’s Army has been fighting government forces in a bitter guerilla war in the countryside since five decades ago.
The ceasefire will be operational as soon as NDFP Chairperson Mariano Orosa and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte approve the recommendation.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
