THE RESPECTIVE unilateral ceasefire declarations of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and President Rodrigo Duterte in response to a global call to fight the COVID-19 pandemic are most welcome. The truce will provide an enabling environment for everybody, including combatants in the ongoing armed conflict, to help in the war against the scourge of COVID-19.
The CPP’s Tuesday declaration, also affirmed by the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), was in response to the call Monday, March 23, of United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres for a global ceasefire between warring parties for a united stand in combatting the pandemic.
“I am calling for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world. It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives. To warring parties, I say: Silence the guns; stop the artillery; end the airstrikes,” said Guterres.
Earlier on March 18, President Duterte declared a unilateral ceasefire with the CPP and its armed wing, New People’s Army, effective March 19 to April 15.
We hope that in this time of pandemic and crisis, this lockdown on armed hostlities will be done with sincerity by the parties. These ceasefires, we hope, too, will provide the necessary enabling environment and pave the way for the resumption of the peace negotiations between the parties.
Even then, while the ceasefire declarations are welcome, these should lead to the resolution of the roots of the armed conflict (poverty, landlessness, hunger, joblessness, injustice, etc.).
We hope and pray, too, that the truce won’t be sabotaged once again by war hawks.
