Duterte willing to ‘walk the extra mile for peace’
The government’s peace efforts with the communist rebels are not yet over.
President Duterte is still willing to “walk the extra mile for peace” with the communist rebels even after lifting the government’s unilateral ceasefire last weekend, ac-
cording to his peace adviser.
Presidential adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza said the President would convene the Cabinet on Monday on the peace efforts with the communists after the rebel group made a “belated” yet “strategic” decision to reciprocate the truce.
“It is very clear that the President walked the extra mile for peace. And no doubt, he will still continue to do so at any given opportunity,” Dureza said in a statement.
Dureza welcomed the communist group’s intention to declare its own truce even if it was made way past President’s deadline last Saturday, saying he presented his “corresponding recommendations” to Duterte and the Cabinet.
“After President Duterte ordered last (Saturday) night the lifting of the government’s unilateral ceasefire, the leadership of the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army- National Democratic Front) announced through the media its belated but still strategic and awaited decision to also declare its own unilateral ceasefire,” Dureza said.
“Indeed, this is a welcome development. It affirms the value of the President’s firm actions for peace. This is what we have been waiting for,” he added.
Last Saturday, the President called off the government’s unilateral ceasefire with the NPA after it fails to reciprocate the gesture. He has placed the government forces on high alert for threats to national security.
The communist rebels, however, claimed they had plan to declare a ceasefire with the government at 8 p.m. Saturday night. Jose Maria Sison, founding chair of the Communist Party of the Philippines, criticized the President for being impulsive in revoking the ceasefire and for bullying the group to do whatever he wanted.
Dureza, however, defended that the President has been patient and prudent in dealing with the communist group.
He even presented a chronology of events highlighting the President’s friendly gestures towards the rebels since the ceasefire was declared in his State of the Nation Address last July 25.
He said the ceasefire declared by the President aimed at stoping the violence on the ground, safeguarding the public, and providing an enabling environment for the resumption of peace talks.
“Consistent with previous unilateral ceasefires like during Christmas holidays, there was high expectation that the National Democratic Front would forthwith and immediately announce also its own as positive response to the President’s declaration,” he said.
“This was precisely the reason for the President’s statement in the SONA that he was calling on and expecting the NDF ‘to respond accordingly,’” he added.
But on July 26, the communist leaders were not able to issue any declaration since they were supposedly waiting for the written orders on the ceasefire, according to Dureza.
In immediate response, he said the military and the police issued policy guidance on how the ceasefire will be enforce. Copies of these guidelines were even sent to the NDF leaders in The Netherlands. “Yet in spite of this, there was still no declaration from them,” Dureza said.
By July 27, Dureza said one milita-man was killed and three others were hurt in a firefight with the NPA rebels in Davao del Norte.
He said the President called on the rebel group to explain the incident amid his ceasefire declaration. “He gave the NDF the end of the following day, July 28 to do so. Still the expected declaration was not issued,” Dureza said.
When the President visited a military camp in Davao del Norte last July 29, Dureza said Duterte bewailed the “unnecesary loss of lives” and publicly asked again the NDF to declare a truce to avoid a repeat of the incident.
“Although already obviously disappointed and exasperated, he announced 5 o’clock the following day (July 30) as a final deadline otherwise he would lift the government’s ceasefire in order to further secure the civilians and secure the peace,” he said.
Dureza said when President’s final deadline passed, there was no declaration from the NDF. “But the President still patiently waited,” Dureza said.
He noted the government monitored “disturbing messages” from the ranks of the NPA. He said its Southern Mindanao Regional Command claimed the government’s unilateral ceasefire was “non-existent” as it also blamed the AFP as “sabotaging” the ceasefire. “Its leadership also belittled the efforts of the President, saying that he could not dictate on the revolutionaries,” he added.
Dureza the President authorized the release of his statement of the ceasefire by 7 p.m. “knowing that an unanswered ceasefire declaration was not for the best interest of the nation.”
“However, after an hour thereafter, past the deadline and evidently informed of the President’s announced position, the NDF publicly stated in the media that it was already ready to issue its own corresponding ceasefire declaration,” he said.