SONA 2016: Duterte Declares Unilateral Ceasefire With Left

Duterte Declares Unilateral Ceasefire With Communist Rebels

Duterte Declares Unilateral Ceasefire – President Rodrigo Duterte, during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), announces a unilateral ceasefire with the communist rebels effective immediately.

Duterte Declares Unilateral Ceasefire

“I am now announcing a unilateral ceasefire with the CPP-NPA effective immediately,” Duterte said during his first SONA, Monday, July 25, 2016.

In a report by Interaksyon, Duterte stated his commitment to the ‘peace’ in the Philippines by urging the Left to stop violence and restore peace in communities as the government will be having a unilateral cease-fire with them.

Also, Duterte appealed to the other groups like the Muslims who have fought the government for about four decades saying, “All of us want peace, not the peace of the dead, but the peace of the living.”

The President expressed that his government’s willingness and readiness to negotiate with the rebels.

According to him, “there is no amount of cash assistance and medals that can relief the loss of human life”. He also expressed his willingness to “end a century of distrust.”

“Let me make this appeal to you… if we cannot as yet love one another, then in God’s name, let’s not hate each other too much,” he said.

President Duterte started his speech in an informal manner introducing the “three guys” behind him and then, iterated his commitment fighting against criminality and illegal drugs relentlessly.

Duterte, during his campaign, he promised to end or even lessen criminality and corruption in just three to six months after taking office. That’s why he encouraged government personnel “not to lower their guard.”

“There will be no letup. Double your efforts,” Duterte said.

“Triple your efforts. We will not stop until the last drug lords or financiers are put behind bars – or below the ground, if they so wish,” he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte was the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines.

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