Agcaoili: Ceasefire to proceed after NDFP receives SOMO, SOPO orders

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines negotiating panel has officially received the documents for Suspension of Offensive Military Operations (SOMO) and Suspension of Offensive Police Operations (SOPO).

Fidel Agcaoili, NDFP negotiating panel chairman, thanked his counterpart, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, for sending the documents.

“We hope that from hereon the unilateral and reciprocal ceasefires declared by the two Parties shall proceed effectively,” he said in a statement.

With the receipt of the SOMO and SOPO orders, Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison said Friday “there is no more problem about continuing the CPP ceasefire order to the NPA.”

Sison and Agcaoili earlier said there were no violations of the ceasefire agreement in the reported incidents in Iloilo and Camarines Norte because their units have yet to receive the formal order amid the absence of documents from the government.

Sison also said the two incidents cannot be construed as deliberate and systematic violations of the ceasefire.

“The best thing to do is cool down and proceed with the reciprocal ceasefires and let them generate goodwill and confidence in preparation for the resumption of the peace negotiations,” he said.

The government and the Communist Party of the Philippines declared ceasefire on Sunday for the holiday season and to create an enabling environment for the possible resumption of peace talks. It will last until January 7.

The government accused the NPA of violating the ceasefire after a platoon of soldiers pulling out from the field was fired upon by alleged armed communists in Barangay Baay, Labo town in Camarines Norte.

The attackers reportedly shot at and lobbed an alleged improvised explosive device at the government troops, killing one soldier and injuring six others.

Meanwhile, in Tubungan, Iloilo, state security forces onboard a patrol vehicle were also ambushed by suspected communist rebels. Two cops were injured in this attack.

The police officers were also pulling out from the area, pursuant to the unilateral and reciprocal ceasefire, when a landmine was detonated in Barangay Singon. —Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMA News