Leaders from various religious organizations expressed support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of a ceasefire with communist rebels. The Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) described the ceasefire, which Duterte declared effective from December 24, 2017 to January 2, 2018, as a “wonderful gift” to the Filipino family. “We have seen the wonders even a unilateral ceasefire declared by both parties can do. It promoted calm and directed our hearts to greater optimism,” the religious group said in a letter to Duterte on Wednesday. “This unilateral ceasefire would lessen the apprehension of the public this Christmas season.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 20, 2017 06:22 UTC