Government expects communist rebels to observe
holiday truce
The
Philippine government made an assurance that it will observe the ceasefire
agreed with the communist rebels for the celebration of Christmas and New Year
and it expects the insurgents to do the same, a Palace official said on
Wednesday.
Both the
government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s
Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) have agreed to a bilateral
ceasefire declaration for the holidays.
With a
bilateral ceasefire in effect, the government expects that the leadership of
CPP-NPA-NDF will notify its troops on the ground, Presidential spokesman Edwin
Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacanang.
With
regards to the possible eruption of violence as the communists celebrate their
44th anniversary, Lacierda said the Armed forces will remain vigilant in the
midst of possible threats from the rebels.
Lacierda
noted that there is a suspension of offensive military operations (SOMO)
reached by both sides in recent talks at The Netherlands that should prevent
clashes in the field.
“The AFP
is vigilant. There is a SOMO as agreed upon by the joint panel abroad. So we
received that press release from, I think, the ambassador of Norway and
Netherlands. But I just spoke to Colonel (Arnulfo) Burgos, kahit naman may SOMO
vigilant sila,” he said.
The
communist rebels and Philippine government representatives held informal talks
in The Netherlands last Monday, and agreed to keep the peace talks alive. At
the same time they recommended a 27-day truce between guerrillas and soldiers.
Both
panels have agreed to a nationwide ceasefire from midnight of December 20 to
midnight of January 15, 2013. Last year, the communist rebels and soldiers went
into a truce from December 16, 2011 to January 2.
The
communist and government panels met on December 17 in The Hague and agreed to
continue discussing important items such as the common declaration of national
unity and just peace, democracy and human rights, agrarian reform, rural
development and national industrialization. PND (as)
Malacanang says President Aquino closely
monitoring situtation in the Visayas hit by typhoon Quinta
President
Benigno S. Aquino III is closely monitoring the situation in the Visayas which
was hit by typhoon Quinta during the Christmas holidays, a Palace official said
on Wednesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said
during the regular press briefing in Malacanang that the Chief Executive, who
left on Tuesday night for a brief vacation, remains in contact with officials
of concerned government agencies regarding the typhoon to ensure the safety of
the people.
"He
is updated doon sa bagyo sa Visayas and on all other important matters of
state, he is informed. But, again, this is an opportunity for the President to
take a well-deserved rest. But it does not mean that the affairs of (the) state
are not moving forward. He continuously receives information on the matters of
the state," Lacierda said.
President
Aquino wants to ensure that the coordination among concerned government
agencies is taking place so that there is an effective response to the
situation in the country, Lacierda noted.
"He
is taking his break. Nonetheless, we were told that if there’s anything
important, he is always a text away. And certainly communications are ongoing
with him except that talagang we wanted to give the President more time to
rest," Lacieda said. PND (js)
