Since the declaration of a unilateral ceasefire by the Duterte administration, the CPP said that at least 219 barangays nationwide have been subject to counter-insurgency operations. They also assert that Duterte’s real goal is to “use the pandemic as an opportunity to try and crush the ‘insurgency’ before the end of his term in office,” pointing out the focus on military operations instead of social services.
In a letter submitted to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on April 15, Luis Jalandoni said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) mounted 13 attacks or assaults against the New People’s Army (NPA) and conducted at least five aerial bombardment and artillery shelling in 96 towns and 196 villages.
For the second time since February, the GRP-NDFP peace talks – which both parties and peace advocates have hailed for achieving an unprecedented advance on the most substantive agenda since President Duterte revived the talks in August 2016 – have suffered disruption. As the fifth round of negotiations was about to begin on May 27…
By RONALYN V. OLEA Bulatlat.com MANILA — Talks on possible joint ceasefire between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) have been deferred to February due to the non-release of political prisoners. The government peace panel committed anew to release political prisoners as the third…
“…if previously signed agreements are not honored, what guarantees does the NDFP have that future agreements would not be similarly violated by the GRP?”
“With the NPA restrained from mounting offensives, the AFP and PNP continue to violate the people’s rights with impunity.”
During the first round of formal talks in Oslo, Norway held in August, both parties agreed to “reconcile and develop their separate unilateral ceasefire orders into a single unified bilateral document within 60 days.”
“The positive outcome of the formal talks held in Oslo, Norway last week removed the animosity and over suspicion left behind by the two previous administrations.” — Benito Tiamzon
The CPP’s Central Committee and the NPA’s National Operational Command said the interim ceasefire takes effect today and will remain valid during the course of peace negotiations until superseded by a joint ceasefire agreement or until a notice of termination of the said ceasefire declaration takes effect.
“We cannot achieve this successful and very significant step forward in the peace negotiations without the strong commitment of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the spirit of goodwill and friendliness of our counterparts…”
Soldiers from the 54th Infantry Battalion (IB), likely augmented by other units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), are reportedly intensifying rather than ceasing military operations in the north.