MINDANAO DAILY T H E P U RV E YO R O F T R U T H , J U S T I C E , A N D D E V E LO P M E N T
Volume VI, No. 161
Website: www.mindanaodailynews.com
Monday
December 12, 2016
P15.00
A1
NDF asks:‘Why the turnaround?’ Duterte to NDF: no ceasefire, no release
By Carolyn O. Arguillas of MindaNews
DAVAO City––“Sorry, I cannot do that.” President Rodrigo Duterte said he will not release 130 political prisoners before Christmas day unless he receives a signed bilateral ceasefire agreement between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) peace panels and witnessed by the third party facilitator from the Royal Norwegian Government, claiming he has “conceded to the communists too much too soon.” “I have conceded to the communists too much too soon. As yet, I have to see a substantive progress of the talks. They are asking for 130 detainees to be released, all NPAs (all members of the New People’s Army). Sorry, I cannot do that. I cannot do it because uubusin nila ang baraha ko” (I will lose all my cards), See ASKS, page A11
DINNER WITH DUTERTE. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte meets with National Democratic Front (NDF) peace panel chair Fidel Agcaoili and wife Chit, the Tiamzon couple Benito and Wilma for dinner at Bondi and Bourke Restaurant at Legaspi Suites, Davao City on December 2, 2016. Photo courtesy of Toto Lozano (Presidential Photo)
UNSAFE AT ANY HEIGHT: We hope this contractor or their client has insurance for their workers or the pedestrians or motorists passing by because according to a safety engineer, they are not using any grounding rods to block any induction or accidental closing of the wires that can electrocute the linemen. They are also working during a rain which is always a threat to the workers and the people passing below them. We wonder if the linemen are even aware of this. Taken on December 3, 2016 at the intersection of F. Abellanosa and Gen. N. Capistrano streets and C.M. Recto Avenue just before the Licoan flyover around 4:35 p.m. under the pouring rain. Photo by Mike Baños for Mindanao Daily
NDF peace consultant: No release, no ceasefire By GERRY LEE GORIT Correspondent
CAGAYAN de Oro City-The Communist rebels will only agree to a muchneeded bilateral ceasefire if
the Duterte administration will fulfill its promise to release the political prisoners who are still languishing in jails all over the country, a National Democratic Front (NDF) peace consultant
said. Alfredo “Ka Paris” Mapano said the NDF and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), are ready to sign any agreement that would formalize the
declaration of the bilateral ceasefire provided the government will make good on its commitment to let go the political prisoners. Mapano said he was dismayed at the pronounce-
ment of President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday that he will only release the political detainees if the NDF will sign an accord binding both parties to declare See PEACE, page A11
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