1st LD Writethru: Philippine gov't, leftist rebels agree on temporary joint cease-fire

The Philippine government and the leftist rebels signed on Wednesday "an agreement on an interim joint ceasefire" during their talks in The Netherlands in a bid to foster "goodwill and trust" between the two sides.

Elisabeth Slattum, Norwegian special envoy to the Philippine government and National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines, made the announcement during a press conference in The Netherlands.

A few minutes after the announcement, both sides signed the agreement.

"The agreement contained rules governing the presence of armed units in local communities and the creation of buffer zones and monitoring and verification mechanisms," Slattum told a news conference.

She said the agreement also prohibits both sides to make "hostile and provocative acts."

The agreement calls for a "ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanisms in relations to the implementation of the ceasefire and the handling of complaints and alleged violations," she added.

Moreover, the agreement calls for the ceasefire committees of both sides "to meet in between formal talks, to discuss, formulate, and finalize the guidelines and ground rules for the implementation of the (newly-signed) agreement."

Both sides also agreed to forge a more stable and comprehensive joint cease-fire agreement in the future to ensure an "enabling environment for eventual and early signing of he Comprehensive Agreement on Social and economic Reforms."

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said that President Rodrigo Duterte has already approved the bilateral cease-fire agreement.

"This is another closer step to our dream," Dureza said at the same news conference.

He said both sides signed the truce agreement to ensure that the peace talks move forward. "Let's stay the course," he said.

"What matters most is (the condition) on the ground (because) it is there on the ground that we are facing a lot of challenges," he said, referring to the skirmishes between government troops and the rebels.

Dureza appealed "to the public and the all the groups that are on the ground to bear with us in our final destination having just and lasting peace in the country."

The Philippine government has yet to issue an official statement on the interim joint cease-fire agreement.

The Duterte administration is holding talks with the rebels in a fresh attempt to end the nearly five decades insurgency.

The peace negotiators of both sides are continuing their talks in Noordwijk in The Netherlands. Norway is brokering the talks. Endit