(Eagle News)–The Palace on Tuesday, March 24, welcomed Communist Party of the Philippines’ founder Jose Maria Sison’s recommendation for a ceasefire amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
“The recommendation of Mr. Jose Ma. Sison, founding chairperson of the Communist Party of the Philippines, to issue a declaration of a ceasefire addressed to the New People’s Army purportedly in response to the call of the United Nations Secretary General for a global armistice, is a positive development,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
According to Panelo, “at this crucial time, the people deserve and need a safe and peaceful environment where there is unimpeded movement of health workers, medical supplies, food, other needs and services, in view of the current state of calamity and public health emergency.”
He said the Palace therefore welcomes “the cooperation of all, including those in the Left, to realize our goal of absolute peace during these times,” as he expressed hope that the “group’s armed component on the ground would show genuine sincerity in laying down their arms and not use the occasion to mobilize their forces.”
“The Palace looks forward that they would make good — and stay true to — their words,” he said.
Sison earlier refused to reciprocate the government’s unilateral ceasefire amid the enhanced community quarantine, saying it was premature.
In a statement on Tuesday, though, Sison said he was “advising the negotiating panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) to recommend to its principal, the NDFP National Council, the issuance of a unilateral ceasefire declaration by the Communist Party of the Philippines to the (NPA)..” as chief political consultant.
He said this was “in order to respond to the call of UN secretary general Antonio Guterres for a global ceasefire between warring parties for the common purpose of fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.”
