The Philippine National Police (PNP) welcomed yesterday the decision of the Communist Party of the Philippines to declare a unilateral ceasefire as a gesture of sincerity for the resumption of peace talks.
Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos, PNP spokesman, said the police force have always been aspiring for an end of communist insurgency which has been going on in the country for almost five decades now.
“The PNP will support all efforts to bring peace to our motherland. Any move to bing us one step closer to have lasting peace is welcome,” said Carlos.
The CPP, in its statement, said it would declare a ceasefire not later than March 31 before the resumption of peace talks next month.
Carlos said they will leave to President Duterte, their commander-in-chief, the decision on whether or not both the police and the military will reciprocate.
Both the military and the police earlier declared a truce with the communist rebels during the first negotiations between the CPP-New People’s Army and the government under the Duterte administration.
But both the two parties withdrew the ceasefire declation when the peace negotiations hit a snag, aggravated by the series of attacks of the communist rebels against government forces. (Aaron Recuenco)