Cease-Fire Takes Effect in Philippines; Rebels Join Priests in Rallies for Peace

MANILA — The guns of guerrilla war fell silent at noon today as the first official cease-fire in the history of the 17-year Philippine Communist insurgency took hold nationwide.

Rebels, priests and human rights workers carried signs declaring, “We Love Peace” and “Give Peace a Chance” as they marched in peace rallies in isolated pockets of the countryside. Military authorities reported no immediate violations. But senior commanders remained on alert, and the leadership of the Communist New People’s Army warned the military against provoking armed confrontations during the 60-day truce.

Government and Communist representatives reached agreement late Tuesday on major differences, clearing the way for the cease-fire to take effect.

Despite success in last-minute meetings ordered by President Corazon Aquino, the government and the rebels remained at odds on many issues, and there was widespread uncertainty about whether the cease-fire could last long.

It “will last exactly 17 seconds,” a senior military commander had said, asking that he not be identified by name. That, he noted, “is how long it takes for a howitzer shell to reach its target.”

The military and rebel leaders had threatened Tuesday to call off the cease-fire, agreed to last month after four months of negotiations. They were sharply divided over whether the Communist Party’s 23,200 guerrillas could retain their weapons during the cease-fire.

The two sides finally agreed that the guerrillas may keep their weapons but may not carry them into urban areas.

“Nobody is supposed to be carrying firearms and scaring people,” Defense Minister Rafael Ileto said.

Rebel negotiators had charged that the military’s position that the guerrillas must give up their arms was in violation of the agreement signed Nov. 27. They said this proved that the military had begun to subvert the peace effort initiated in June by Aquino.

The rebel leaders also took issue with the military view that the armed forces should continue to carry out combat patrols in rebel-controlled areas.

The two sides agreed that the final decision on this point will be made by the president.

“President Aquino is very vital here,” said Antonio Zumel, spokesman for the National Democratic Front and one of three rebel negotiators. “She should make known her position. Whatever her position is, it is she who will make or break the cease-fire.”

Zumel and Saturnino Ocampo, another rebel leader, told reporters that talks aimed at reaching a political settlement of the conflict can continue with or without a cease-fire.

The talks will continue, Ocampo said, “as long as the Aquino government is willing to talk to us and regardless of what they want to talk about.”

In a series of recent public appearances, Zumel, Ocampo and Ocampo’s wife, Carolina Malay, reportedly the three top leaders in the Philippine Communist Party, said their demands in the peace talks will include the removal of the two big U.S. military bases here and a total restructuring of Philippine society.

Ocampo charged that the Philippine “ruling class” is not prepared to make any concessions to the rebels, who are demanding a general shift toward Marxist principles, including thorough land reform.

“There are no indications whatsoever that (business and political leaders) are ready to do that,” Ocampo said.

The military has agreed to allow the three rebel leaders and 50 of their associates free movement during the cease-fire.