Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 8) — Ceasefire can no longer be discussed even at the local level following President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement there will be no more truce with communist rebels for the rest of his term.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque told CNN Philippines on Tuesday that Duterte’s statement was “without qualification,” so a localized ceasefire – one facilitated by local government units – is also not possible. He was responding to the suggestion made by Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.
“Since peace talks are now localized, ceasefire with the NPA is better discussed at the local level as well, probably on a case-to-case basis,” Lacson said.
“Rebels who may wish to lay down their arms but wouldn’t know how to go about it could find confidence to do so if a localized ceasefire is in force,” added Lacson, a former chief of the Philippine National Police.
Duterte walked away from peace negotiations with the communist group in 2017 as both sides accused each other of ceasefire violations. The administration has since pushed for localized peace talks instead, one that has been rejected by the Communist Party of the Philippines, saying the government was fabricating reports on the massive surrenders of armed rebels.
The National Democratic Front represented the CPP and its armed wing the New People’s Army in the negotiations. The insurgency has spanned over five decades.
Despite a promising start to the peace talks during Duterte’s first year in office, the government has moved to declare the CPP-NPA as terrorists. This tag has to be tried and approved by the Court of Appeals.
For the CPP, shutting the door on any ceasefire is another “anti-peace declaration” from the Duterte government. It said it was not surprised.
“Duterte has time and again proved himself opposed to any effort to end the civil war in the country through peace negotiations,” CPP information officer Marco Valbuena said in a statement.
He said the CPP has not made up its mind on whether it will declare a unilateral ceasefire for the holiday season. It has done so for the past four years, but Duterte did not reciprocate the truce in 2018.
Duterte’s latest decision went beyond the Armed Forces’ recommendation not to declare a ceasefire this pandemic holiday season. It is, however, in contrast to his December 4 pronouncement at the special session of the United Nations General Assembly on the coronavirus crisis, wherein he reiterated his support for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ call for an immediate global ceasefire amid the pandemic.
READ: Duterte appeals for global ceasefire amid COVID-19 pandemic
