Lifeless bodies of an elderly farmer and his son with disability were found in a field in a peasant community in Brgy. Kapatagan, municipality of Laak in Davao de Oro (formerly Compostela Valley) province.
Members of the New People’s Army (NPA) are observing the unilateral and reciprocal ceasefire being declared by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), but they won’t hesitate to engage state forces if attacked, a spokesperson of the New People’s Army (NPA) said Thursday (Dec. 26).
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in Southern Mindanao denounced Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s statement calling on the national government to exclude Davao City from the Duterte administration’s ceasefire declaration and the forthcoming resumption of peace negotiations with the NDFP.
Moro human rights group Suara Bangsamoro called for an independent investigation on the recent bombings in Cotabato City and neighboring municipalities in Cotabato and Maguindanao that happened as the extended martial law is about to expire on December 31.
The declaration of a ceasefire in the Christmas season by both government and Communist rebels is a cause for celebration for Filipinos, a peace advocate group said.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio does not want a ceasefire with communist rebels in the city this holiday season.
When Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Regional Trial Court Branch 221 in Quezon City released its verdict on Thursday, the children of the Ampatuan massacre victims knew that they will be facing another journey after enduring one during the last 10 years.
At least 19 people were injured in separate incidents of explosions on Sunday evening, December 22 in Cotabato and Maguindanao.
The conviction of members of the Ampatuan clan on their role in the Ampatuan Massacre was hailed as a “momentary respite from reigning injustice” by an interfaith human rights group.
Media organizations here have applauded the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City for finding the principal suspects and others who were accused of perpetrating the Ampatuan massacre guilty on Thursday (Dec. 19).
