Press Release
December 23, 2015

CHIZ URGES GOV'T, CPP TO EXTEND TRUCE UNTIL MAY 2016

To ensure a peaceful conduct of the upcoming general elections, vice-presidential frontrunner Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero is appealing to both the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to extend their yearly Christmas truce until the May 9, 2016 polls.

"Nais kong ipanawagan sa pamahalaan at sa CPP-NPA-NDF na 'yung ceasefire na pinaiiral nila sa ngayon hanggang sa New Year, sana baka pwede namang mapag-usapan nila na panatilihin na 'yan hanggang sa darating na eleksyon," Escudero said.

NPA refers to CPP's armed wing, the New People's Army, and the NDF stands for National Democratic Front, a coalition of communist organizations which was involved in past peace negotiations with the government.

Keeping their guns silent beyond the Christmas holidays would be reassuring to the public who are weary of violence that usually mars political campaigns leading to the election.

"Malaking kaginhawahan din para sa mga mamamayan kung mababawasan ang karahasan na ating nakikita tuwing panahon ng kampanya at eleksyon. Lahat ng maaaring gawin para mapanatili ang kapayapaan ay nararapat na bigyan ng pagkakataon," the veteran lawmaker said.

Escudero also said that an extended ceasefire would also allow the government to focus on its arbitration case against China over the disputed West Philippine Sea.

"Mas maganda siguro kung matigil muna ang patayan sa pagitan ng kapwa Pilipino at harapin muna natin iyong hamon at pagsubok kaugnay ng mga dayuhan na tila nagpupursige na awayin o makipag-away sa atin o hindi tanggapin ang anumang desisyon ng Permanent Court of Arbitration," he pointed out.

Both the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the CPP-NPA-NDF have separately declared a 12-day ceasefire beginning Dec. 23. President Aquino has approved the suspension of military operations against the communist rebels during the holiday truce.

At the same time, Escudero said a ceasefire extension could be a "good step" toward the resumption of peace talks between the government and the communist rebels, who have been waging a guerilla war for the past 40 years.

The veteran lawmaker has always been supportive of efforts to resume the stalled peace negotiations between the government and the communist group, saying "any effort that would bring armed conflict to a permanent and just closure through peaceful means deserves the nation's backing."

Talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF were suspended a few years ago after the communist rebels demanded the release of their consultants from government custody.

The CPP-NPA-NDF reportedly prefers to talk peace with the next administration after questioning the Aquino government's sincerity in the peace talks.

But just recently, government negotiators said they were coordinating with Norway to determine how the negotiations with the communist group can move forward. Norway facilitates the peace talks between the government and the NDF.

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