Skip to content
OurVote2022logo
mindanews-fact-check-logo-1
  • Business
  • Peace Process
  • Governance
  • Travel
  • Arts & Culture
  • Special Reports
  • Mindaviews
  • Pictures
Menu
  • Business
  • Peace Process
  • Governance
  • Travel
  • Arts & Culture
  • Special Reports
  • Mindaviews
  • Pictures

Ceasefire holding; Sison says he is ready to meet Duterte in Hanoi  

  • Froilan Gallardo

-

  • January 4, 2020
Share this story

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 04 January) —  Despite a shaky start, the 16-day holiday truce between the Philippine government appears to be holding and is expected to raise the prospects of reviving the peace negotiations, Jose Ma. Sison, founding chair of the Communist Party of the Philippines said.

Sison also said that while it is still too early in the day, he is ready to meet President Duterte “one-on-one” in Hanoi as suggested by the government panel.

There are complaints of violations of the December 23, 2019 to January 7, 2020 ceasefire “but the Philippine government is not withdrawing. Nor shall the Communist Party,” Sison told reporters in Butuan City via Skype from Utrecht, The Netherlands on December 30.

SIGNED. Government peace panel chair SIlvestre Bello III (r) and NDF peace panel chair FIdel Agcaoili exchange copies of the Interim Joint Ceasefire Agreement signed on April 5, 2017 in The Netherlands. but will take effect only when the guidelines and ground rules are approved. President Rodrigo Duterte called off the talks in November 2017 and declared the CPP-NPA as terrorists in December that year. Last month, a 16-day ceasefire from December 23, 2019 to January 7, 2020, was agreed upon by government and the NDF. Photo courtesy of OPAPP

“I think, on the whole, the ceasefire will be a success. I don’t foresee any action by the government that could spoil the ceasefire,” Sison said.

Communist rebels called off a plenum and mass wedding of their supporters in Bacuag, Surigao del Norte on December 30, as soldiers swarmed the venue.

Ka Oto, spokesperson of the New People’s Army (NPA) Front 16, informed  a group of reporters invited to cover the plenum not to proceed anymore because the situation was “unsafe”.

Sison said the deployment of Army soldiers in Bacuag town was “ a hostile and provocative action.”

But “it was not enough to pull out,” Sison said, adding there is “no great cause for the NDF to withdraw from the negotiating table.”

The Philippine government also accused the communist rebels of violating the truce when NPA rebels attacked a police and Army units in Camarines Norte and Iloilo, killing a soldier and wounding several policemen last December 23.

President Rodrigo Duterte did not call off the ceasefire.

Sison said the success of the ceasefire, could pave the way for another informal meeting of both parties by the second or third week of January.

He said the informal meeting is in preparation for the formal resumption of the peace talks to be held most likely in Oslo. The government of Norway has been facilitating the peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front.  (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)

Your perspective matters! Leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We welcome diverse viewpoints and encourage respectful discussions. Don't hesitate to share your ideas or engage with others.
Advertisement
Rakrakan
Follow us on Facebook
Facebook
The MindaNews Podcast
-- ad here--

TOP STORIES

NorMin produces less amid increase in coffee bean production nationwide

Froilan Gallardo September 23, 2023 10:19 am

Approval, trust ratings of Bongbong, Sara down – PUBLiCUS Asia survey

H. Marcos C. Mordeno September 22, 2023 2:46 pm

3 ex-Sayyaf members surrender in Sulu

Frencie Carreon September 21, 2023 8:05 pm

Groups urge Filipino youth to remember martial law

Antonio L. Colina IV September 21, 2023 4:29 pm

Brgy officials with no lechon experience win Iligan’s ‘Indigay sa Litson’

Marivic Omandam Davis September 21, 2023 12:16 pm

MINDAVIEWS

KINURISKURIS: San Pedro Cathedral

Keith Bacongco September 17, 2023 2:51 pm

BATANG MINDANAW: To my 22-year-old writer self 

Jhon Steven C. Espenido September 17, 2023 2:51 pm

TURNING POINT: Responding to the Extended Provocation

William R. Adan September 11, 2023 3:13 pm
Read more MINDAVIEWS

BUSINESS NEWS

18 homegrown cafés joining Davao Coffee Crawl

Antonio L. Colina IV September 20, 2023 3:12 pm

25 delegates from Mindanao to join international expo in Sabah

Antonio L. Colina IV September 13, 2023 2:00 pm

Senator Villar cites EU’s GSP+ during tuna congress

Bong S. Sarmiento September 7, 2023 5:21 pm

Davao Region’s inflation rate lowest in Mindanao

Antonio L. Colina IV September 5, 2023 9:53 pm

Japanese firm looking for more suppliers of coconut-based food products

Mindanews August 31, 2023 2:35 pm

95 exhibitors to join Davao Agri Trade Expo

Antonio L. Colina IV August 23, 2023 5:48 pm

ARTS & CULTURE

Sarangani writers showcase literary works in Philippine Book Festival

Genory Vanz Alfasain August 27, 2023 4:11 pm

INTERACTIVE MAP | Cagayan de Oro Higalaay Festival 2023

Yas D. Ocampo August 25, 2023 2:00 pm

Davao City Events | Palawud x Holodeck, Budots: The Craze

Mindanews August 19, 2023 10:10 am

Kadayawan Festival 2023 event guide

Yas D. Ocampo August 7, 2023 4:01 pm

The MindaNews Podcast: Aubrey DS and the creative pursuits that drive us

Mindanews July 10, 2023 7:06 pm
eric gancio of yano

The MindaNews Podcast: Davao-based Eric Gancio and the return of Yano

Yas D. Ocampo June 2, 2023 5:15 pm

MindaNews is the news service arm of the Mindanao Institute of Journalism. It is composed of independent, professional journalists who believe and practice people empowerment through media.

23C Saturn St. GSIS Subdivision, Davao City Philippines Tel. No.: 082 297 4360 editor [at] mindanews.com
Facebook Twitter

© MindaNews 2016 -2023 | All Rights Reserved

About Us

Privacy Policy