President Rodrigo Duterte and Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair Jose Maria Sison had agreed that the peace process should move forward, Malaca帽ang said on Tuesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Duterte and Sison had their conversation at 2 a.m.聽Tuesday.
鈥淵es, it went through. It was mostly a conversation between friends,鈥� Abella said in a statement.
鈥漀o references were made to political issues. Both agreed on moving [the] peace process forward,鈥� he added.
In a Palace briefing, Abella said the two had a 鈥渨arm conversation.鈥�
鈥淔rom the sources, it was a warm conversation between old friends, but there were no details, there were no political issues that were covered. However, both agreed that the peace process must move forward,鈥� he said.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Sison said he had a 鈥渇riendly and productive鈥� phone conversation with Duterte about advancing the peace talks.
READ: Joma Sison: Phone chat with Duterte on peace deal 鈥榩roductive鈥�
He said the unilateral ceasefire declaration between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) would stand during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
鈥淏ilateral ceasefire agreement and the amnesty and release of the political prisoners listed by the NDFP can be discussed and agreed upon before, during and even after the third round of formal talks in Rome from January 18 to 24,鈥� he said.聽CDG