President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a cease-fire on the part of the Philippine government against communist groups. The unilateral and reciprocal cease-fire between the state and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People’s Army (NPA), and National Democratic Front of the Philippines began today, December 23, 2019 at 12:00 midnight and ends on January 07, 2020. The instruction of the Chief Executive aimed at showing the government’s sincerity and the President’s good intention towards the possibility of reviving the peace negotiation.
The Head of State has also instructed on the reestablishment of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines Negotiating Panel that will include Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as member. The Malacañan explained that it is ready to gamble for the sake of peace. “The communist rebels will always want this government to fall. That is precisely the purpose by which this organization has been conceived from the very beginning; so, it is not far-fetched that they want to eliminate all the officials running this government,” stated Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
Before the President’s directive, the CPP-National Democratic Front had called on all NPA units and other members not to launch any attack against the government troops.
The palace also gave a word on the recent signing by United States of America (USA) President Donald Trump of a law that will ban the government officials of the Philippines involved in jailing Senator Leila de Lima to enter the USA territory. It expressed its unfazed psyche on the same because the complaint against the senator was legitimate.
Last, the Malacañan mentioned that the Head of State visits Cotabato City this afternoon to distribute land certificates. It also said that there will be possibility that he will visit the area devastated by the recent bombing there.
