The AFP, however, hopes that the rebels will respect the declaration in order to achieve the purpose of the ceasefire.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assured its respect to the ceasefire declaration with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its arms, New People’s Army (NPA) and National Democratic Front (NDF).
Col. Edgard Arevalo said the military will support and yield to the peace initiative to achieve long and lasting peace.
He, however, said that the AFP hopes that the rebels will respect the declaration in order to achieve the purpose of the ceasefire.
In light with the declaration, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo Visaya is expected issue directives to the soldiers in all parts of the country.
The AFP also solicits prayers for the success of the peace talks that is one of the battlecries of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte even before elected.
The government’s indefinite ceasefire declaration is a reciprocation to the unilateral ceasefire declared by the CPP-NPA-NDF the night before. The leftists’ declaration followed the release of Benito and Wilma Tiamzon to join the peace talks in Oslo, Norway.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza made the announcement at NAIA before he left for Norway on Saturday afternoon.
The ceasefire is effective starting 12:00 AM of Sunday and shall remain until it is necessary.
Dureza said the ceasefire shall pave the wayfor the success of the negotiation in Norway on August 22.
“I am pleased to announce that President Rodrigo Duterte has restored the effects of the unilateral ceasefire with the CPP-NPA-NDF effective 12 midnight tonight 21 August 2016. The duration of the ceasefire will last as for long as necessary to bring peace in the land and also in order to provide an enabling environment for the success of the peace negotiations that will start in Oslo, Norway on August 22”, said Dureza.
“The President during his State of the Nation Address last July 25 first issued the unilateral ceasefire to immediately somehow stop violence and bring peace to the communities and the people. However, six (6) days after, the President lifted it on July 30 due to the failure of the CPP/NPA/NDF to timely reciprocate with their own. Today, the President restores the effects of that ceasefire declaration precisely at this strategic time when we are all at the onset of the formal resumption of peace talks that had previously stalled for the last four years”.