Pol. inmates will be freed upon signing of ceasefire

THE Duterte administration welcomed the willingness of the National Democratic Front (NDF) to sign a bilateral ceasefire agreement even before the release of political prisoners, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said yesterday.

“The willingness of the NDF to sign the bilateral ceasefire agreement is indeed a welcome development as this bodes well to a positive atmosphere when we meet again for the third round of talks in January,” Bello, government’s chief peace negotiator, said.

Bello said signing a bilateral ceasefire is the “best gift” the two parties can give to the Filipino people as it could result in a “permanent” truce aims to achieve longlasting peace.

He said the bilateral ceasefire would not only benefit the combatants but the people who are caught in the crossfire of the armed conflict in Mindanao.

“Forging a bilateral ceasefire agreement is the best gift the government and the NDF can give to the Filipino people this holiday season,” Bello said.

“May this lead to the permanent end of hostilities for the new year leading to a just and lasting peace,” he added.

Bello’s statement came after NDF adviser Luis Jalandoni said the communist group is willing to ink the truce deal, as long as President Rodrigo Duterte will make true of his promise to release the political detainees within 48 hours upon signing.

In an exclusive interview with GMA News Online last Saturday, Jalandoni was quoted as saying that the NDF is “willing to sign a bilateral ceasefire but Duterte has to release all political prisoners within 48 hours.”

Binding and effective upon the release of all the political prisoners,” Jalandoni added.

The President said he could not release all the detained communist rebels unless the NDF signs an agreement with his administration, seeking to end hostilities in the country.