Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza said that while a joint statement was signed stating that both parties would reinstate their unilateral ceasefire declarations, they would need time to update combat forces on the ground. The government chief negotiator shared that the reinstatement of the indefinite unilateral ceasefire declarations would happen before the scheduled fourth round of talks in the first week of April. The recent encounters were not surprising and highlighted the need for an early effectivity of the ceasefire, Dureza said. This would replace the unilateral ceasefire declarations and would establish more stable mechanisms including monitoring and prevention of tensions that might trigger hostilities. “Public acceptance (or the lack of it) on the on- going peace process is critical, given the indispensable need of over-all stakeholders’ support to ensure success of our peace efforts,” Dureza said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 14, 2017 15:33 UTC