Communist Rebels Amenable To Truce Around Bulusan Volcano

Agence France-Presse, Associated Press, Inquirer
First posted 11:03am (Mla time) June 21, 2006

(3RD UPDATE) COMMUNIST guerillas on Wednesday welcomed a government proposal for a temporary ceasefire around a restive central Philippine volcano to allow soldiers to help villagers in case of a major eruption.
But the rebels, who have waged a 37-year-old Maoist insurgency, warned that the truce should not be used to bring in US troops to the disaster area.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's chief of staff, Michael Defensor, on Tuesday said the government was ready to discuss possible cooperation with the guerrillas in the Bulusan volcano region despite a new all-out offensive against the rebels ordered by the President last week.

"We welcome the request of Mike Defensor ... for a mutual ceasefire between the Armed Forces and the NDFP in connection with the expected eruption of Mount Bulusan," the communist-led umbrella National Democratic Front of the Philippines said in a statement.

Fidel Agcaoili, chairman of the NDF human rights committee, said the rebel group was offering a ceasefire in the towns of Bulusan, Casiguran and Juban while relief efforts were ongoing and until it was safe enough for families to return to their homes.

“Notwithstanding the Arroyo regime’s current acts of hostility against the revolutionary movement, we deem acceptable the mutual ceasefire on humanitarian grounds,” Agcaoli said.

The 5,134-foot mountain began emitting steam and ash in late March, triggering the evacuation of several dozen families on the southern tip of the main island of Luzon.

Government experts said this week that a major eruption appeared to be unlikely.

Agcaoili warned that the cease-fire "should not be used as a license by the armed forces ... to swamp the affected areas with armed troops," and "should also not be used as a license by the US to bring in military forces to disaster-affected areas in the guise of humanitarian relief."

He said the ceasefire duration would cover the evacuation of the people threatened by the volcanic eruption, all necessary care and relief work for the affected communities and the eventual return of the evacuees to their homes.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Generoso Senga described the offer as "welcome news" as troops were continuing to assist families.

Although Senga said the military was already in "disaster operations" mode even without the declaration of a formal truce.

"It's standard operating procedure for the AFP that when there are disasters or calamities we drop everything and will prioritize assisting the people," he told reporters Wednesday.

The government earlier announced that Sorsogon province, where the volcano is situated, would be the focus, along with the provinces around Metro Manila, of stepped up military operations and development aid for two years aimed at defeating insurgents in these areas.

The Communist Party of the Philippines and its 7,400-member New People's Army, blacklisted by the United States and the European Union as terrorist organizations, have been waging a Maoist armed campaign for 37 years.

Arroyo shelved peace talks two years ago after the rebels refused a government demand for a nationwide ceasefire.