THIS seems to have become necessary following the failure of the CPP/NPA/NDF to respond to the unilateral ceasefire he had declared in his State of the Nation Address on July 25. Many had praised his courage for that declaration, but his decision to lift the ceasefire following the NPA ambush in Davao del Norte, in which one government militiaman was killed and four others were wounded, and the communists’ failure to respond to his ultimatum, has won him even more praise.
What happens now to the peace talks with the communists is not clear. Even less clear is what happens to PDU30’s apparent decision to form a coalition government with the Left. At least three seasoned Leftist ideologues are now in the Cabinet, and they happen to be among the more competent ones who seem to have the ear of the President. What happens to them now?
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