Philippine President willing to negotiate with rebel group
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is determined to hold peaceful negotiations with rebel group the New People’s Army (NPA) despite the lifting of the unilateral ceasefire.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)꧂ – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is determined to hold peaceful negotiations with rebel group the New People’s Army (NPA) despite the lifting of the unilateral ceasefire, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza said on July 31.
The government is set to discuss the peace process in a cabinet meeting on August 1, Dureza said in a statement.
The rebel group affirmed their willingness to issue a separate but simultaneous ceasefire with the government on August 20 to support peace talks scheduled in Oslo, Norway from August 20-27.
The government said that the move from the rebels, albeit delayed, is a welcome development.
President Durterte revoked a truce with the rebel group on July 30 after the insurgents attacked militiamen in Davao del Norte on July 27, killing one militia man and injuring four others.
He asked the group to declare a truce as a result of the incident but it failed to meet the 5pm final deadline he imposed on July 30.
Duterte also ordered security forces to stay on high alert and resume their mandate to neutralise all threats to national security.
The NPA, with an estimated 4,000 members, has been fighting the government over the past four decades. The conflicts has led to more than 40,000 deaths.-VNA
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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo: AFP/VNA)
