Malacañang said yesterday the government’s unilateral ceasefire with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front will continue despite the attacks in Camarines Sur and Iloilo on Dec. 23, saying President Duterte is giving the communists the chance to explain why they broke their own ceasefire on the first day of the truce.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement following the ambush allegedly staged by members of the NPA in Camarines Sur and Iloilo which claimed the life of one soldier and wounded eight others.
Panelo said the Palace condemned the attack because it was a violation of the truce. However, he said the President was willing to give the Reds a chance to explain their act.
“We condemn, of course, the violation of the ceasefire agreement. You must remember that it was them who declared a unilateral ceasefire and that has also been violated,” he said.
“Nevertheless, we are giving them the chance to explain why it has committed such violation. And since the President has always been open, giving a little window in the pursuit of peace, he will wait for the explanation coming from them,” he added.
“He is (President Duterte) waiting for the report and for the explanation why they made the attack. But what is really clear is the President really wants peace among Filipinos.”
Duterte agreed to declare the 16-day nationwide unilateral and reciprocal ceasefire with the communists to build a conducive environment for the formal resumption of the peace talks which the President scrapped in November 2017 due to the insincerity of the other party. (Argyll Geducos)