Manila, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has given the communist group (CPP-NPA-NDF) until Saturday, July 30, 2016 at 5 p.m. to explain their strike on Wednesday in Davao del Norte in the middle of the ceasefire observation by the forces of the government. He warned the group that he would lift the ceasefire they will ignore his call to match the suspension of offensives.
According to the Presidential adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza that the President imposed the deadline on the communist group when he visited the headquarters of the army’s 60th Infantry Battalion in Asuncion, Davao del Norte on Thursday. “I have dealt with you in good faith. Tell me if you are ready to deal with the same manner. I am asking you: are you ready to declare ceasefire or not? Its 5 p.m.,” Duterte said. The President will wait for their declaration until 5 p.m. on Saturday. He also added that it is better that he can get a word with the group or he will lift the observance of ceasefire.
The President said that he is ready to put his life on the line for the sake of the peace. “I will face you someday. I have no problem,” he said. “I went out of my way just to express to you our need for peace,” he added. He cited the as long as there is conflict, there will be poverty. He stressed the declaration of ceasefire in good faith and hoping that the group would respond in the same manner in order to move with the peace negotiations.
However, the spokesperson for the NPA in Southern Mindanao, Aris Francisco, said that the group has admitted the responsibility for the incident on Wednesday but claimed that it was a twisted story that came out from the military. He said that the militiamen made it appear that the rebels did not respect the ceasefire, he claimed that the militiamen were not on their way back to camp when the ambush happened. They were actually on a mission against the NPA in the area.
