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20Aug16

Declaration of restoration of ceasefire

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 for as 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.

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.

The operational guidelines of the said ceasefire declaration for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police and other security units of the government are also hereby restored.

Our citizens deserve no less. They wish to live peaceful lives bereft of the costs and tragic consequences of conflict and violence.

The enabling environment brought about this by this "silencing of the guns" will hopefully go a long way in bringing about an expeditious and early resolution to our differences and aspirations that have long divided us as people.

As we all know, in full support for the orderly and effective conduct of the peace negotiations, President Duterte has caused the unprecedented and historical release from detention of 20 prisoners who are needed in peace negotiations. As we speak, there is continuing effort to make available in the Oslo peace talks resumption as many of them as possible.

I say again: the Duterte government will walk the extra mile for peace.

[Source: Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Manila, The Philippines, 20Aug16]
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Peace Negotiations in the Philippines
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