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Police arrest NPA in Mindoro, Revolutionaries condemn ceasefire violation

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Revolutionary forces in Mindoro condemn the arrest of a Red fighter by PNP-Mimaropa amid the ongoing peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Ka Ma. Patricia Andal, NDF-Mindoro spokesperson, called the police as “traitor” and “insincere towards the peace talks” for arresting NPA member Jeffrey Delos Reyes while fulfilling his tasks for the said talks.

“The arrest of Delos Reyes by the police is an incontrovertible truth that eversince the police is insincere towards the ongoing peace talks,” Ka Patricia said. “We know for a fact that they can detest the revolutionaries because that is what they do. They are that boorish for disprespecting the ceasfire directive of their commander in chief Rodrigo Duterte.”

Ka Higom Maragang, spokesperson of the Lucio De Guzman Command (LDGC)/NPA-Mindoro, asserted that the cases filed against Delos Reyes are trump-up charges. He explained that those who uphold legitimate armed struggle should not be treated as criminals.

“This battle against the reactionary governmetn is legitimate because we fight for a genuine social change against the exploitation and oppression of the people by the ruling class. If this is not legitimate, the GRP should have not faced us in the peace negotiations,” Ka Higom said.

“Casualties among combantants in times of war are not crimes, and if that is, should not be charged as criminal cases against those in war. Unless they are violating the rules and international humanitarian laws of war, which are almost always violated by the mercenary armed forces of the GRP,” he explained.
Delos Reyes was arrested by the elements of the PNP-Mimaropa in Victoria, Oriental Mindoro while fulfilling his task for the peace talks. He is currently detained at the Oriental Mindoro Porivncial Jail in Calapan City and charged of murder and frustrated murder.

“the police is sabotaging the peace talks,” Delos Reyes said. “We call on those with us in our quest for lasting peace, let us intensify our support to the GRP-NDFP peace talks, call for the dismissal of all trump-up criminal charges against Red fighters, free all politica detainees, and fight for genuine change for the people,”
he ended.

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NPA, dinakip ng mga pulis sa Mindoro
Paglabag sa ceasefire, kinundena ng mga rebolusyonaryo

Mariing kinundena ng mga pwersang rebolusyonaryo sa Mindoro ang pagdakip ng PNP-Mimaropa sa isang Pulang mandirigma sa kabila ng umuusad na usapang pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng Gubyerno ng Republika ng Pilipinas (GRP) at National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Tinawag ni Ka Ma. Patricia Andal, tagapagsalita ng NDF-Mindoro, ang mga pulis na “traydor at insinsero” sa usapang pangkapayapaan dahil sa pagdakip sa kanilang mandirigmang si Jeffrey Delos Reyes habang tumutupad ito ng tungkulin para sa nasabing usapan.

“Ang pagdakip nila kay Delos Reyes ay isang nagdudumilat na katotohanang simula’t sapul hindi naman sinsero ang mga pulis na umusad ang usapang pangkapayapaan,” ani Ka Patricia. “Alam naming kayang kaya nilang bastusin ang mga rebolusyonaryo sapagkat gawain nila iyan. Ngunit ganyan sila kagarapal dahil binabastos din nila ang kanilang commander in chief na si Rodrigo Duterte sa direktiba nitong tigil-putukan.”

Giit naman ni Ka Higom Maragang, tagapagsalita ng Lucio De Guzman Command (LDGC)/NPA-Mindoro, na gawa-gawa ang mga kasong isinampa kay Delos Reyes. Aniya, hindi dapat ituring na kriminal ang mga nagsusulong ng armadong pakikibaka.

“Lehitimo ang aming pakikidigma sa reaksyunaryong gubyerno sapagkat nagsusulong kami ng tunay na pagbabago laban sa pagsasamantala at pang-aapi ng naghaharing uri sa sambayanan. Kung hindi ito lehitimo, hindi haharap ang GRP sa negosasyong pangkapayapaan,” ani Higom.

“Ang mga kaswalti sa hanay ng mga kombatant sa panahon ng digma ay hindi krimen, at kung gayon ay hindi dapat isampang kasong kriminal sa mga imbwelto sa digmaan. Maliban kung sila ay lumalabag sa mga patakaran at internasyunal na makataong batas sa pakikidigma, na kung tutuusin ay lagi’t laging nilalabag ng mga mersenaryong hukbong sandatahan ng GRP,” paliwanag niya.

Dinakip ng mga elemento ng PNP-Mimaropa si Delos Reyes sa Victoria, Oriental Mindoro habang tumutupad ng gawain para sa usapang pangkapayapaan. Kasalukuyan siyang nakaditine sa Oriental Mindoro Provincial Jail sa Calapan City sa kasong murder at frustrated murder.

“Sinasabotahe ng mga pulis ang usapang pangkapayaan,” ani Delos Reyes. “Dumudulog po tayo sa lahat ng kaisa natin sa pagkamit ng pangmatagalang kapayapaan, paigtingin pa natin ang pagsuporta sa usapang GRP-NDFP, ipanawagan nating ibasura ang mga gawa-gawang kasong kriminal sa mga Pulang mandirigma, palayain ang lahat ng detenidong pulitikal, at ipaglaban natin ang tunay na pagbabago para sa ating bayan,” panawagan niya. ###

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West Cagayan report tungkol sa ceasefire

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Nagpapatuloy ang presensya ng combat troops ng 17th IBPA sa mga baryo/bayan ng Cagayan sa gitna ng unilateral declaration ng ceasefire ni Duterte noong July 25 at sa sumunod pang mga unilateral declarations ng NDFP/GRP

  • July 27 – pumasok ang RPSB sa Sta. Margarita, Baggao
  • August 22 – nagkumandong pumasok ang isang yunit ng 17th IB sa So. Tangilo, Barangay Sicalao, Lasam at tumungo sa kagubatang bahagi ng So. Magatalon, Brgy. Calasitan, Sto. Nino para magsagawa ng pagsasanay. Sa kanilang pagpasok ay may nakakita sa kanilang taumbaryo. Habang nasa kagubatan ng So. Magatalon ay naririnig ng ilang mga masang Agay ang kanilang tuluy-tuloy na pagpapaputok.
  • August 29 – nakita muli ng taumbaryo ang mga armadong sundalo sa masukal na bahagi ng Brgy. Balanni, Sto Nino.
  • Sept 2 -4 – pumasok ang 60 tropa ng 17th IB-RPSB-CAFGU sa So. Mauanan, Brgy. Iluro, Rizal. Nanatili sila sa may cellsite ng globe. Ayon sa paniktik ng hukbo, ito ay strike operation bilang reaksyon sa naipaabot sa kanilang presensya ng isang yunit ng NPA (Danilo Ben Command) sa erya.

Unilateral Declaration of Interim Ceasefire

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[Pilipino »]

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the National Operational Command of the New People’s Army (NPA) hereby declare to all commands and units of the NPA and people’s militias an interim ceasefire in line with the recommendation of the Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and in pursuit of the August 26 Joint Statement of the NDFP and Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) on the resumption of formal peace negotiations.

This unilateral declaration of interim ceasefire is being issued by the CPP and NPA to further promote peace negotiations between the NDFP and the GRP and boost efforts to accelerate it. It reciprocates the indefinite ceasefire issued by the GRP President last August 21.

This unilateral declaration of interim ceasefire shall take effect today and will remain valid during the course of peace negotiations until superceded by a ceasefire agreement to be issued jointly by the NDFP with the GRP within the next 60 days or until a notice of termination of this ceasefire declaration takes effect 10 days after receipt of said notice by the GRP Negotiating Panel from the NDFP Negotiating Panel.

The CPP and NPA are encouraged by the positive outcome of the resumption of formal talks held in Oslo, Norway on August 22-26. The
revolutionary forces in the Philippines look forward to vibrant talks in the course of the next few months to discuss (a) social and economic reforms, (b) political and constitutional reforms, and (c) end of hostilities and disposition of forces.

The issuance of this interim ceasefire declaration is further encouraged by the prospective release of all political prisoners and
remaining detained consultants of the NDFP through the issuance of an Amnesty Proclamation by the GRP President. These prisoners were arrested under the Arroyo and Aquino regimes in violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees.

During the interim ceasefire period, all NPA units and people’s militia shall cease and desist from carrying out offensive military campaigns and operations against the uniformed armed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) of the GRP.

Personnel of the AFP and PNP who have no serious liabilities other than their membership in their armed units shall not be subjected to arrest or punitive actions. They may be allowed individually to enter the territory of the people’s democratic government to make personal visits to relatives and friends.

While all units of the NPA and the people’s militias shall be on defensive mode at both the strategic and tactical levels, they shall nonetheless maintain a high degree of militancy and vigilance against any hostile actions, provocations or movements of the enemy armed forces including encroachment on the territory of the people’s democratic government, surveillance and other offensive operations that are labelled as “peace and development”, “civil-military”, “peace and order”, “anti drugs campaign,” “medical missions” or “law enforcement.”

Active-defense actions shall be undertaken only in the face of clear and imminent danger and actual armed attack by the enemy forces and only after exhausting counter-maneuvers to avoid armed encounters.

All leading organs and branches of the CPP, commands and units of the NPA and people’s militias and revolutionary mass organizations shall monitor any hostile actions, provocations or movements carried out by the enemy armed forces that undermine the spirit of the ceasefire declarations. These should be promptly reported to the concerned commands of the NPA and leadership of the CPP.

While ceasing offensive military operations, the NPA will continue to enforce policies and laws of the people’s democratic government, perform appropriate functions of governance, and mobilize the people and resources in territories under its authority, including:

  1. maintaining peace and order including suppression of criminal groups such as drug traffickers and operators of the drug trade and large-scale gambling, private armies and private armed groups of warlords, local tyrants and vigilante groups, as well as spies.
  2. enforcing local economic policies pertaining to land rent, usurious loans, wages and others.
  3. enforcing policies for the protection of the environment and defense of the interests of national minorities, peasants and workers affected by large-scale mining, logging and plantation operations.

Furthermore, as a cultural, political and service organization, the NPA will continue to dispatch its forces to carry out educational campaigns especially on progress of peace negotiations, cultural activities, medical missions and production support campaigns.

Unilateral na Deklarasyon ng pansamantalang tigil-putukan

Komite Sentral, Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas at
Pambansang Kumand sa Operasyon, Bagong Hukbong Bayan

Agosto 28, 2016

Idinedeklara ngayon ng Komite Sentral ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP) at ng Pambansang Kumand sa Operasyon ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan (BHB) sa lahat ng kumand at yunit ng BHB at mga milisyang bayan ang isang pansamantalang tigil-putukan alinsunod sa rekomendasyon ng Negotiating Panel ng National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) at bilang pagtaguyod sa Magkasamang Pahayag ng NDFP at ng Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) nitong Agosto 26 tungkol sa muling pagsisimula ng pormal na negosasyong pangkayapaan.

Itong unilateral na deklarasyon ng pansamantalang tigil-putukan ay inilalabas ng PKP at BHB upang ibayong itaguyod ang negosasyong pangkapayapaan ng NDFP at GRP at itulak ang pagpapabilis nito. Tinutumbasan nito ang walang-taning na tigil-putukang inilabas ng Presidente ng GRP noong Agosto 21.

Magkakabisa ngayong araw itong unilateral na deklarasyon ng pansamantalang tigil-putukan at mananatiling maybisa sa panahon ng usapang pangkapayapaan hanggang sa palitan ng isang kasunduan sa tigil putukan na magkasamang ilalabas ng NDFP kasama ang GRP sa loob ng 60 araw o hanggang magkabisa sa loob ng 10 araw ng pagtanggap ng Negotiating Panel ng GRP ang isang pabatid ng pagtatapos sa deklarasyon sa tigil putukan mula sa Negotiating Panel ng NDFP.

Ang PKP at BHB ay nahihikayat ng positibong bunga ng muling pagbubukas ng pormal na pag-uusap sa Oslo, Norway nitong Agosto 22-26. Umaasa ang mga rebolusyonaryong pwersa sa Pilipinas sa masigasig na pag-uusap sa darating na ilang buwan tungkol sa (a) mga repormang panlipunan at pang ekonomya; (b) mga reporma sa pulitika at konstitusyon; at (c) pagtatapos ng mga labanan at disposisyon ng mga pwersa.

Ang paglalabas nitong deklarasyon sa pansamantalang tigil-putukan ay lalong nahihikayat ng inaasahang pagpapalaya sa mga bilanggong pulitikal at ng nalalabi pang mga konsultant ng NDFP sa pamamagitan ng paglalabasng Amnesty Proclamation ng Presidente ng GRP. Ang mga bilanggo na ito ay inaresto sa ilalim ng rehimeng Arroyo at Aquino na labag sa Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) at sa Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees.

Sa panahon ng pansamantalang tigil-putukan, tatapusin at ihihinto ng lahat ng yunit ng BHB at milisyang bayan ang paglulunsad ng mga opensibong kampanya at operasyong militar laban sa mga unipormadong armadong tauhan ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at ng Philippine National Police (PNP) ng GRP.

Ang mga tauhan ng AFP at PNP na walang seryosyong kaso liban sa pagiging myembro ng kanilang armadong yunit ay hindi aarestuhin o parurusahan. Maaari silang paisa-isang pumasok sa mga teritoryo ng demokratikong gubyernong bayan para sa mga personal na pagbisita sa kanilang mga kamag anak at kaibigan.

Habang lahat ng yunit ng BHB at milisyang bayan ay mananatiling nasa depensibong katayuan kapwa sa estratehiko at taktikal na antas, pananatilihin pa rin nila ang mataas na antas ng militansya at pagiging mapagbantay laban sa mapandigmang kilos, probokasyon o kilos ng mga armadong pwersa ng kaaway kabilang ang pagpasok sa teritoryo ng demokratikong gubyernong bayan, paniniktik at iba pang opensibong operasyon na tinataguring “peace and development”, “civil-military”, “peace and order”, “kampanyang anti-droga”, “medical mission” o “pagpapatupad ng batas”.

Ilulunsad lamang ang mga hakbanging aktibong-pagdepensa sa harap ng malinaw at napipintong peligro o aktwal na armadong atake ng kaaway at matapos lamang na mga kontra-maniobra para umiwas sa armadong engkwentro.

Dapat subaybayan lahat ng namumunong organo at sangay ng PKP, kumand at yunit ng BHB at milisyang bayan at rebolusyonaryong organisasyong masa anumang mapandigmang kilos, probokasyon at pagkilos ng armadong pwersa ng kaaway na sumisira sa diwa ng mga deklarasyon sa tigil-putukan. Lahat ito’y dapat agad na iulat sa nauukol na kumand ng BHB at pamunuan ng PKP.

Habang inihihinto ang mga opensibong operasyong militar, ipagpapatuloy ng BHB ang pagpapatupad ng mga patakaran at batas ng demokratikong gubernong bayan, patuloy na ipatutupad ang gawain sa panggugubyerno at pakikilusin ang bayan at rekurso sa mga teritoryo sa ilalim ng awtoridad nito, kabilang ang:

  1. pagmantine ng kapayapaan at kaayusan kabilang ang pagsupil sa mga grupong kriminal tulad ng mga opereytor ng drug trafficking at malakihang sugal, mga private army at armadong grupo ng mga warlord, lokal na tirano at mga grupong vigilante, pati na mga espiya.
  2. pagtupad ng mga patakaran sa ekonomya na pumapatungkol sa upa sa lupa, usura, sahod at iba pa.
  3. pagtupad ng batas para sa pangangalaga ng kalikasan at pagtatanggol sa interes ng mga pambansang minorya, magsasaka at mga manggagawa na apektado ng malakihang pagmimina, pagtotroso at mga operasyon ng plantasyon.

Dagdag pa, bilang isang organisasyong pangkultura, pampulitika at panserbisyo, ipagpapatuloy ng BHB ang pagpapakat ng mga pwersa nito para magsagawa ng mga kampanyang pang-edukasyon, laluna tungkol sa takbo ng negosasyong pangkapayapaan, mga aktibidad pangkultura, pagbibigay ng serbisyong medikal at paglulunsad ng mga kampanya pamproduksyon.

[Related post: Next round of talks crucial, needed reforms on the agenda »]

Continuing AFP operations, presence in communities undermine GRP ceasefire

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To support the determination of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) to engage the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) in peace negotiations, units of the New People’s Army (NPA) have strictly complied with the 7-day (August 21-27) ceasefire declaration issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the National Operational Command of the New People’s Army.

Towards this aim, NPA units are also set to release at least seven prisoners-of-war in Surigao and Compostela Valley. In Northern Mindanao, the NPA command took the initiative of extending the effectivity of the ceasefire to facilitate the safe and orderly release of the said prisoners, all of whom are GRP police officers who were accosted to undergo preliminary investigation.

In light of positive developments in peace negotiations in Oslo, Norway, the leadership of the CPP and command of the NPA are encouraged to issue an extension of the unilateral declaration of ceasefire. The declaration will be issued after the results of the Oslo talks are made public.

We are also encouraged by the statements of GRP President Duterte encouraging soldiers and police to be friendly with the revolutionary forces as well as by recognition of the revolutionary government led by the CPP that exist in large parts of the country.

The CPP, however, must strongly criticize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for maintaining their presence and continuing to make aggressive moves in and around the areas of operations of the NPA which form part of the territories of the people’s democratic government.

There have been persistent reports of continuing presence of armed operating troops of the AFP in barangay centers, occupying barangay halls, community schools and day care centers, senior citizen centers and other civilian structures. They continue to set up detachments or physical bases in the center of civilian population.

Local residents have questioned why armed operating troops of the AFP are entering their barangays, knowing that the Duterte government has declared a ceasefire. According to our reports, when questioned, field commanders invariably justify their presence with claims of ‘peace and development’, ‘anti-drug’, ‘anti-logging’ and ‘visitations’. To the people, these are nothing but thinly-veiled pretexts to impose their armed presence and to carry out psywar, surveillance and search and combat operations against the NPA.

The presence and operations of the AFP in rural communities undermine the credibility of the Duterte government among the people as it projects an image of disunity within the GRP or refusal of the AFP to abide by the order of its commander-in-chief.

AFP units have maintained their presence in civilian communities in Kalinga, Isabela, Abra, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Western Samar, Negros Occidental, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Bukidnon and Compostela Valley.

People are made to suffer the oppressive presence of armed operating troops of the AFP which instill fear on civilians. The people’s right to free movement is restricted for fear of being accosted by the soldiers or because of the outright imposition of curfew.

Economic activity is affected as peasants choose not to tend theirfields for fear of being questioned by soldiers. There have been restrictions on commerce, particularly, on the amount of goods that can be purchased by community stores. Community leaders, especially those active in struggles for land and against mining are being summoned or “invited” by the AFP.

Peasants, Lumad and other minority peoples seek the assistance of peace advocates, human rights groups, media and alternative media groups, students, lawyers, church people and others to help draw attention to their plight and amplify their call for the withdrawal of armed troops from their communities.

The AFP must also stop making the stupid counter-demand for the NPA to also withdraw from their communities. These are nothing but empty noise to drown the clamor for their removal. In the first place NPA units do not set up detachments inside the communities or use barangay halls as their barracks.

In light of GRP President’s call, we anticipate him to be sympathetic to the plight of the peasants and Lumad and see the urgency of ordering the withdrawal of AFP troops from civilian communities.

The continuing presence of armed troops of the AFP in rural communities also undermine and endanger the ceasefire declarations separately issued by GRP President Duterte and the CPP.

Operating troops of the AFP have been using the rural communities as base to launch aggressive operations into the interior areas where they believe NPA units are based.

Over the past week, NPA units across the country have reported that they were forced to carry out lateral and counter-encirclement maneuvers to avoid skirmishes with active and aggressive units of the AFP.

If the AFP will insist on maintaining its presence in communities and launching aggressive operations into the interior areas, armed skirmishes are bound to erupt despite the NPA’s effort to maintain the ceasefire.

For the CPP and Duterte ceasefires to persist, the negotiating panels of the GRP and the NDFP can establish more explicit ground rules and systems of monitoring and reporting.

Order to suspend all offensive operations of the NPA in Surigao Del Sur and Surigao Del Norte until August 31, 2016 to facilitate the release of the five (5) prisoners of war in NEMR

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Given that a unilateral ceasefire declaration of the CPP-NPA is currently in effect since 12:01 midnight of August 21 until 11:59 midnight of August 27, 2016, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines – North Eastern Mindanao Region (NDFP-NEMR) hereby orders all units of the New People’s Army whose area of responsibility covers San Miguel, Tago, Tandag City, Cortes, Lanuza, Carmen, Madrid, Cantilan and Carrascal in Surigao del Sur and the whole province of Surigao del Norte to CONTINUE TO SUSPEND ALL OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS until midnight (12:00) of August 31, 2016.

This declaration is to ensure the safety and security of the Prisoners of War (POW), Third Party Facilitators, the New People’s Army custodial units, and all those who will attend the release of prisoners of war PO1 Richard Yu of the PNP-Carmen in Surigao del Sur; PO2 Caleb Sinaca, PO3 Jayroll Bagayas and NPU Rodrigo Angob of the Malimono Municipal Police Station and SPO3 Santiago Lamanilao of the Surigao City Police Office in Surigao del Norte.

Given that the GRP President Rodrigo Duterte has declared an indefinite UNILATERAL ceasefire which started midnight of August 21, 2016, we expect that the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (AFP-PNP-CAFGU) and its paramilitary forces will abide by the order of its commander-in-chief and will have completely suspended the offensive military operations especially in the abovementioned areas. Should the AFP-PNP-CAFGU units fail to comply with the directive, they shall be subject to counter-offensive and active-defense military actions of the NPA after the lifting of the NPA unilateral ceasefire at the dawn of August 28, 2016.

In relation to this, all responsible units concerned with the security of the area must report immediately to their higher command any and all developments in the field in order to help enable the NDFP-NEMR to make timely appraisals and directives based on the situation.

This ceasefire order to all responsible units means the temporary cessation of any military actions by concerned NPA units against whatever unit or individual members of the AFP-PNP-CAFGU. All concerned NPA units, however, must maintain their active-defense posture within the given timeframe of the ceasefire, and must not hesitate to defend its forces and the masses within its area of responsibility.

It is ordered further that after the release of prisoners of war PO1 Ricard Yu, PO2 Caleb Sinaca, PO3 Jayroll Bagayas, NPU Rodrigo Angob and SPO3 Santiago Lamanilao, all NPA units must move to a more secure location to prepare themselves and the masses in the area against possible attacks by enemy forces.

Ka Maria Malaya
Spokesperson
NDFP-NEMR

On GRP President’s unilateral declaration of an indefinite ceasefire

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The CPP welcomes the unilateral declaration by GRP President Duterte of an indefinite ceasefire to reciprocate the earlier 7-day ceasefire issued by the CPP and NPA.

The CPP hopes it could soon match the GRP President’s indefinite ceasefire declaration with a unilateral declaration of an interim ceasefire. This declaration can be issued soon after the completion of the release of at least five more NDFP consultants and around 520 political prisoners nationwide through a presidential proclamation of general amnesty as earlier broached by the GRP President.

Hopefully, the GRP President can issue such a proclamation soon after the resumption of peace talks in order to encourage the CPP to expeditiously issue its declaration of interim ceasefire during the course of the peace negotiations.

These matters are among the top items in the agenda of the scheduled talks on August 22-26 in Oslo, Norway between the negotiating panels of the GRP and NDFP.

The CPP and all revolutionary forces recognize the extra effort of GRP President Duterte to boost the peace talks. After the current 7-day ceasefire declaration by the CPP lapses on August 27, and until the CPP can issue a unilateral declaration of interim ceasefire, the CPP can task the NPA to stand down and remain on active defense. Details will be issued after the Oslo talks.

While recognizing the GRP President’s efforts to boost the peace talks, the CPP wishes to express its concern over particular provisions of the operational guidelines reissued by the AFP. In these guidelines, the chief-of staff orders AFP troops to continue with so-called “peace and development” operations under the much-detested Oplan Bayanihan.

These operations, such as those being carried out in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, have been used in the past to justify the militarization of communities in the guerrilla zones and to carry out surveillance and harassment operations against community activists and leaders whom the AFP suspects of being members of local CPP branches and peasant organizations.

Hopefully, the GRP President can consider ordering specific units of the AFP to be withdrawn from their detachments inside civilian communities to bolster the people’s trust in the GRP President’s determination to pursue the path of peace.

The CPP would also like to draw the GRP President’s attention to the successive arrests by military and police operatives over the past days. Last August 12, national peasant leader Antonio Pajalla was arrested in Macalelon, Quezon and charged with rebellion. Last Friday, Mindanao-based missionary Amelia Pond was arrested while in Cebu to attend an assembly of rural missionaries. She was slapped with murder charges. We urge the GRP President to effect their immediate release.

CPP and NPA issue unilateral declaration of 7-day ceasefire

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The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the National Operational Command of the New People’s Army (NPA) today issued a unilateral declaration of a seven-day ceasefire to celebrate and bolster the resumption of formal GRP-NDFP peace talks.

[Read: Unilateral declaration of ceasefire during opening of peace talks]

The ceasefire will take effect starting 12:01 a.m. of August 21 and will last until 11:59 p.m. of August 27. The formal talks between the negotiating panels of the NDFP and GRP are scheduled for August 22-26 and will be held in Oslo, Norway.

“This ceasefire declaration is encouraged by the GRP’s facilitation of the release of nearly all NDFP consultants who are set to participate in peace negotiations in the course of the next several months,” said the CPP and NPA.

Earlier today, the GRP released NDFP consultants Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Austria Tiamzon, who were leading members of the CPP and key consultants of the NDFP when they were arrested in March 2014.

“The CPP anticipates the release of the rest of the NDFP consultants so that everyone can participate in the peace talks.” It cited the case of Ka Eduardo Sarmiento who was arrested in February 2009, slapped with trumped-up murder charges and unjustly convicted in December 2013. He is currently serving a life sentence in Muntinlupa.

The CPP reiterated its “deep appreciation of the determined efforts of GRP President Duterte to push forward and accelerate the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations as a means of addressing the roots of the civil war in the Philippines.”

“We hope that this ceasefire declaration will be reciprocated by the GRP as a show of all-out determination to move forward with peace negotiations,” said the CPP. It clarified, however, that the ceasefire declaration will take effect even without GRP reciprocation.

“With or without reciprocation by the GRP, the NPA must maintain a high-level of alertness against enemy troop movements,” said the CPP. “Even while ready to engage in defensive action, the NPA will exert efforts to carry out early counter-maneuvers to avoid armed encounters during the specified ceasefire period.

The CPP anticipates the upcoming Oslo peace talks to discuss the recommendation for the GRP President to issue a general amnesty to pave the way for the release of all political prisoners who are mostly worker and peasant activists slapped with criminal charges to cause their prolonged detention.

“To further bolster peace negotiations, the CPP and NPA are also open to discuss the possibility of a longer ceasefire upon completion of the release of all political prisoners,” said the CPP.

Unilateral declaration of ceasefire during opening of peace talks

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[Pilipino»]

Upon the recommendation of the Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the National Operational Command of the New People’s Army (NPA) hereby unilaterally declares to all commands and units of the NPA and the people’s militia a ceasefire to celebrate and bolster the formal resumption of peace talks between the NDFP and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).

This unilateral declaration of ceasefire shall be in effect from: 12:01 a.m. of August 21, 2016 to 11:59 p.m. of August 27, 2016 to coincide with the formal resumption of NDFP-GRP peace negotiations to be held in Oslo, Norway.

This ceasefire declaration is encouraged by the GRP’s facilitation of the release of 14 of the 22 detained NDFP consultants who are set to participate in peace negotiations in the course of the next several months.

During the ceasefire period, all NPA units and people’s militia shall cease and desist from carrying out offensive military campaigns and operations against the uniformed armed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.

Personnel of the AFP and PNP who have no serious liabilities other than their membership in their armed units shall not be subjected to arrest or punitive actions. They may be allowed individually to enter the territory of the people’s democratic government to make personal visits to relatives and friends.

All units of the NPA and the people’s militias shall remain on defensive mode at both the strategic and tactical levels. They shall nonetheless maintain a high degree of militancy and vigilance against any hostile actions or movements by enemy armed forces with the aim of encirclement and suppression.

The NPA shall consider as hostile action encroachments on the territory of the people’s democratic government by operating troops of the AFP and its paramilitaries to conduct surveillance, psywar and other offensive operations that are labelled as “peace and development”, “civil-military”, “peace and order” and “law enforcement” operations.

Active-defense operations by the NPA shall be undertaken only in the face of clear and imminent danger and actual armed attack by the enemy forces and only after exhausting counter-maneuvers to avoid armed encounters.

All leading organs and branches of the CPP, commands and units of the NPA and people’s militias and revolutionary mass organizations shall closely monitor any hostile actions, provocations or movements being carried out by the enemy armed forces. Such information should be reported to the concerned commands of the New People’s Army and leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Unilateral na Deklarasyon ng tigil-putukan sa pagbubukas ng usapang pangkapayapaan

Sa rekomendasyon ng Negotiating Panel ng National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), unilateral na idinideklara ng Komite Sentral ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP) at ng Pambansang Pamatnugutan sa Operasyon ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan (BHB) sa lahat ng kumand at yunit ng BHB at ng milisyang bayan ang kautusang tigil-putukan upang suportahan at palakasin ang muling pagbubukas ng usapang pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng NDFP and ng Gubyerno ng Republika ng Pilipinas (GRP) at upang tumulong sa pagpapalakas ng nasabing usapan.

Ang unilateral na deklarasyon ng tigil-putukan ay magkakabisa mula: 12:01 n.u. ng Agosto 21, 2016 hanggang 11:59 n.g. ng Agosto 27, 2016 upang sumabay sa pormal na muling pagpapatuloy ng negosasyong pangkapayapaang NDFP-GRP na gaganapin sa Oslo, Norway.

Ang deklarasyong tigil-putukan na ito ay hinimok ng pagbibigay-daan ng GRP sa pagpapalaya ng 14 sa 22 nakadetineng konsultant ng NDFP na nakatakdang lumahok sa usapang pangkapayapaan sa susunod na ilang buwan.

Sa panahon ng tigil-putukan, lahat ng yunit ng BHB at milisyang bayan ay titigil at pipigil na magsagawa ng opensibang mga kampanya at operasyong militar laban sa unipormadong tauhan ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas (AFP) at ng Philippine National Police (PNP) ng Gubyerno ng Republika ng Pilipinas.

Ang mga tauhan ng AFP at PNP na walang seryosong pananagutan maliban sa pagiging kasapi ng kanilang armadong mga yunit ay hindi maipaiilalim sa pag aaresto o pamamarusa. Maaari silang pahintulutang indibidwal na pumasok sa teritoryo ng demokratikong pamahalaang bayan upang personal na dumalaw sa mga kamag-anak o kaibigan.

Lahat ng yunit ng BHB at ng milisyang bayan ay pansamantalang titigil sa opensiba at mananatili sa depensibang postura kapwa sa estratehiko at taktikal na antas. Gayunpaman, paiiralin nila ang mataas na antas ng militansya at pagkamapagbantay laban sa anumang palaban na aksyon o pagkilos ng mga armadong pwersa ng kaaway na naglalayong mangubkob at manlipol.

Ituturing ng BHB na palabang aksyon ang pagpasok sa teritoryo ng demokratikong pamahalaang bayan ng mga tropang pang-operasyon ng AFP at ng mga paramilitar nito upang magsagawa ng paniniktik, saywar at ibang opensibang operasyon na tinataguriang mga operasyong ng “peace and development”, “civil-military”, “peace and order” at “law enforcement”.

Magsasagawa ang BHB ng mga operasyong aktibong depensa sa harap lamang ng malinaw at napipintong panganib o aktwal na armadong pagsalakay ng mga pwersa ng kaaway at matapos gawin ang lahat ng maaaring kontra-maniobra upang maiwasan ang armadong sagupaan.

Lahat ng namumunong organo at sangay ng PKP, kumand at yunit ng BHB at milisyang bayan at rebolusyonaryong organisasyong pangmasa ay mahigpit na magmomonitor ng anumang palabang aksyon ng mga armadong pwersa ng kaaway. Ang gayong impormasyon ay dapat iulat sa nauukol na mga kumand ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan at pamunuan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas.

Pag-anunsyo ng unilateral na deklarasyon ng 7-araw na tigil-putukan

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Simula 12:01, hatinggabi ng Agosto 21 hanggang 11:59 hatinggabi ng Agosto 27,ihihinto ng buong New People’s Army at mga unit ng milisyang bayan ang lahat ng opensibong operasyon laban sa AFP, PNP, CAFGU at iba pang paramilitar. Ito ay upang suportahan ang muling pagbubukas ng pormal na usapang pangkapayapaan.

Bukas ang NPA na magkaroon ng mas mahaba pang ceasefire kung ideklara ito ng pamunuan ng PKP at NDFP kasabay ng gubyernong Duterte kaakibat ng pagpapalaya ng lahat ng mga bilanggong pulitikal at para itulak ang pagpapabilis ng negosasyong pangkapayapaan ng NDFP at GRP.

Ikinagagalak ng mga Pulang mandirigma ang pagpapalaya sa mga NDFP consultants. Mabilis na kumalat dito sa kanayunan ang balita ng kanilang paglaya. Binabati namin si GRP President Duterte sa kanyang mga hakbangin na tupdin ang mga obligasyon ng GRP sa ilalim ng JASIG upang bigyang-daan ang peace negotiations. Malugod na sasalubungin ng NPA at mga rebolusyonaryong pwersa ang kanyang mga positibong hakbangin.

Kahit alam nating hindi madali ang pagkakamit ng kasunduan sa pagitan ng gubyernong Duterte at NDFP, umaasa kaming maging bukas ang dalawang panig para sa interes ng mamamayan. Umaasa na ang magkatuwang na pagpupunyagi ng NDFP at ng GRP sa ilalim ni Duterte ay magkakamit ng wala pang kapantay na mga pagsulong sa usapang pangkapayapaan.