Tag: peace talks

DOJ asks Manila court to declare CPP-NPA as terrorist organization

(Eagle News) — The government has formally sought the declaration of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army as a terrorist group. Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong filed on Wednesday a petition for proscription with the Manila Regional Trial Court. President Rodrigo Duterte called off peace talks with the communist rebels last year, and later issued a proclamation declaring the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization. Section 17 of Republic Act No. 9372, or the […]

PHL wants “lasting peace,” won’t allow CPP coalition gov’t, President Duterte tells Norwegian envoy

  (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte assured the Norwegian special envoy to the peace process between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), that the Philippine government is still committed to achieving a “just and lasting peace” in the country, especially in Mindanao. The President met with the Norwegian special envoy, Idun Tvedt, during a courtesy call at the Presidential Guest House in Davao City on […]

Roque: PHL committed to peace, Duterte tells Norwegian envoy

(Eagle News) — The Philippines is committed to peace. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said this was the statement given by President Rodrigo Duterte  during his meeting on Thursday night with Idun Tvedt, Norwegian special envoy for the peace process between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. Duterte made the statement even after peace talks between the two parties collapsed last year. According to Roque,  Tvedt “reiterated the commitment of the Norwegian […]

President Duterte unfazed over Sison’s threat Communist rebels could kill one soldier a day

  (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday was unfazed over Communist Party of the Philippines chair Jose Maria Sison’s threat rebels could kill one soldier a day if peace negotiations did not resume. In an event in Malacanang that saw around 200 officially leaving their rebel lives behind,  Duterte even threatened to have five New People’s Army rebels killed for every soldier killed. “He wants to succeed me. No question about that. He’s a […]

NUPL: Cops planted firearm, grenade on Baylosis

(Eagle News) — The grenade and gun authorities said were seized from Rafael Baylosis were merely planted, the National Union of People’s Lawyers said. According to NUPL president Edre Olalia, when the National Democratic Front consultant was “seized Wednesday afternoon,” authorities made it appear he had a gun. He said this was because Baylosis  had “no outstanding warrant against him.” He said the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32 that is hearing the murder charges filed against Baylosis, after […]

CPP leader nabbed in Ozamiz

(Eagle News) — Another high-ranking official of the Communist Party of the Philippines has been arrested. Supt. Lemuel Gonda, spokesperson of the Northern Mindanao regional police, said  Rommel Dorango Salinas, secretary of the CPP, was arrested on Thursday at Bernard Subdivision, City Hall Drive, Barangay Aguada in Ozamiz. Authorities said Salinas was nabbed for frustrated murder and destructive arson. Gonda said Salinas has since been brought to the Bureau of Jail and Management and Penology […]

UPDATED: NDFP consultant, companion arrested

(Eagle News) — A peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and his companion were arrested on Wednesday night. Tina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general, said Rafael Baylosis and another were nabbed by members of the Criminal Investigation Detection Group-National Capital Region, the intelligence services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, of the National Capital Region Police Office and the Quezon City Police District before 10 p.m. on Aurora Boulevard in Quezon […]

Duterte: “Destroy the NPA”

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday dashed what already appeared to be little hopes of a revival of peace talks between the government and the communist rebels, using strong words to denounce what he said was an organization that disrespected the republic. “Dito sa giyera na ito, destroy the New People’s Army, destroy the organization..,” he said in a speech in Compostela Valley. According to the President, he did what he could to “try […]

Palace welcomes NPA declaration of 8-day ceasefire

(Eagle News) — The Palace on Friday welcomed the New People’s Army declaration of an eight-day ceasefire covering the holidays. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the government “expect(s)” the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA to “honor their word and comply” with the unilateral ceasefire. He said President Rodrigo Duterte, for his part, “decided to declare a suspension of offensive military operations against the Reds precisely because he wants Filipinos to feel safer during the holiday […]

President Duterte adjusts dates covered by holiday ceasefire with Communist rebels

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte has adjusted the dates covered by the holiday ceasefire with Communist rebels. “The Executive Secretary confirmed that the ceasefire decided upon the President is now from December 23, 6.pm. until December 26, 11:59 p.m. and from December 30, 6 p.m. to January 2 [2018], 11:59 p.m.,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a briefing on Thursday. Roque earlier said that the suspension of combat operations would be on December […]

President Duterte declares unilateral ceasefire with communist rebels for the holidays

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a ceasefire with the communists for the holidays. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday night that the ceasefire was effective from December 24, 2017 to January 2, 2018. “This unilateral ceasefire would lessen the apprehension of the public… We expect that the (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines) would do a similar gesture of goodwill,” Roque […]

UPDATED: President Duterte condemns NPA attack on soldiers holding relief ops in Samar; likens Communist group to ISIS

“They are just a bunch of brigands,” he says (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday denounced the New People’s Army attack on soldiers who were only holding relief operations for those affected by “Urduja” in northern Samar on Sunday, likening the communist armed wing to “ISIS.” “I strongly protest and condemn the actions of the (NPA). I would say that this is something which I have been telling you all along. It does […]