President Rodrigo Duterte has restored the government’s unilateral ceasefire with communist rebels ahead of the peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in Oslo, Norway next week. ADVERTISEMENTREAD: Duterte announces unilateral ceasefire with communist rebels | Duterte calls off truce“Today, the President restores the effects of that ceasefire declaration precisely at this strategic time when we are all at the onset of the formal resumption of peace talks that had previously stalled for the last four years. The operational guideline of the said ceasefire declaration for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police and other security units are also hereby restored,” Dureza said. The Communist Party of the Philippines on Friday night declared a seven-day unilateral ceasefire with the government, which would take effect until 11:59 on Aug. 27, to “celebrate and bolster” the resumption of peace negotiations. READ: Reds declare 7-day truceThe declaration came hours after the release of NDFP peace consultants, including top insurgent leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, who will participate in the talks next week.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer August 20, 2016 08:03 UTC