(Eagle News)– The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said it would revoke the unilateral ceasefire it had declared if the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) will not release all detained rebels by January 2017.
“The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines is ready to terminate the August 28, 2016 unilateral declaration of interim ceasefire in case no amnesty and release of all political prisoners would occur in December or January,” CPP founder and chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Jose Maria Sison said.
“We shall be back to a situation of negotiating while fighting, unless the GRP terminates the peace negotiations completely,” Sison added.
On Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to release communist detainees in 48 hours if the government and the NDFP peace panels produce a signed bilateral ceasefire agreement.
Sison retorted a bilateral ceasefire agreement may be signed even before the amnesty and release of political detainees, but it would only take effect upon the actual release of political prisoners.
“No chance for the GRP to get the bilateral ceasefire agreement and then renege on the commitment to amnesty and release all political prisoners,” Sison said.
CPP and the New People’s Army (NPA) on August 28 declared the unilateral interim ceasefire to promote and accelerate peace negotiations with the GRP.
The NDFP has criticized the government for failing to fulfill its promise to release political detainees.
The government has not yet released a political prisoner through the peace process since 21 consultants and staff were freed on bail last August.