Malacañang yesterday said the government’s nationwide unilateral and reciprocal ceasefire with the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-New People’s Army will continue after President Duterte chose to let the communist rebels’ violation of the truce slide.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement after the National Democratic Front said the attacks by the New People’s Army in Camarines Norte and Iloilo on Dec. 23 were not violations of the ceasefire as these were defensive actions against government forces.
Panelo said the NPA should never allow such an incident to happen again.
“Whatever the reason is, pinagbigyan sila ni Presidente. Kaya ‘wag na nila ulitin,” Panelo said. “Pinapabayaan na lang ni Presidente. Tuloy pa rin ‘yun,” he added.
However, Panelo said Duterte is insisting that Communist Party of the Philippines founder Joma Sison should come to the Philippines and have a one-on-one talk with him.
“Ang gusto ni Presidente pumunta siya dito sa Pilipinas at mag-usap sila one-on-one. ‘Pag hindi siya pumunta dito ibig sabihin takot siya at hindi siya matapat sa kanyang mga salita,” he said.
Panelo also called Sison’s concern for his security as one of the reasons why he does not want to come home after being in exile for so long as nonsense. “Kalokohan ‘yang ‘security reasons.’ Walang mangyayari sa kanya doon,” he said. (Argyll Geducos)