The NPA said government troops are operating in more than 500 villages, more than 164 municipalities and 43 provinces in the country.
The Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army declared on Wednesday morning the termination of its unilateral ceasefire declaration after more than five months.
The chief negotiator of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines said as of Tuesday, the interim unilateral ceasefire of the New People’s Army is still in place.
A member of the peace panel said there is a possibility for the government’s release of three remaining detained consultants before it resumes peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in April.
The third party facilitator for the peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front lauded the success of the third round of talks held in Rome, Italy.
After a week of negotiations, the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines concluded the third round of talks here on Wednesday night, Jan. 25.
Jose Maria Sison, founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, missed the closing ceremony of the third round of talks with the Philippine government here after being admitted to the hospital Wednesday night.
Peace panels of the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front signed ground rules on the last day of the six-day peace talks, in the hope to speed up the negotiations on social and economic reforms.
Government peace panel chairperson Silvestre Bello III said the basis of the request is Sison’s participation to the peace process.
The government peace panel and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines will meet again of the fourth week of next month to discuss the proposed bilateral ceasefire agreement and issues on the implementation of the provisions of Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law directly connected to the ceasefire.
