The government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) have declared a ceasefire just days before the start of peace talks in Oslo, Norway. The CPP directed its guerilla units to “cease and desist” from conducting tactical offensives against the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. In a statement, the CPP said the ceasefire will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday and will last until 11:59 p.m. on August 27. Dureza, head of the government’s delegation in the peace talks with communist rebels, will leave for Oslo today. “As we speak, there is continuing effort to make available in the Oslo peace talks resumption as many of them as possible.

Source: Manila Times August 20, 2016 14:54 UTC