Philippines, Rebels Reach Arms Accord; Truce Set Wednesday
MANILA — Government and communist rebel officials today announced agreement on a weapons dispute and said an unprecedented cease-fire in the 17-year insurgency will take effect Wednesday as scheduled.
Government negotiator Teofisto Guingona said the two sides “have reached agreement for the cease-fire agreement to take place as scheduled” at noon Wednesday. “And we have clarified a point of interpretation as far as the firearms issue and patrols are concerned.”
The dispute, which centered on the rebel New People’s Army’s insistence on carrying weapons during the 60-day truce, had threatened to delay the cease-fire.
But Guingona said the two sides agreed that rebels should “deposit their firearms or leave behind their firearms” when entering populated areas.
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