Misamis Oriental governor wants ceasefire with rebels

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Misamis Oriental Gov. Antonio Calingin said yesterday he is willing to sit down for a dialogue with local communist insurgents to reach a local ceasefire to give Misamisnons the chance to celebrate the "true meaning of Christmas."

"I am very willing to sit down with our brothers in the left for a ceasefire agreement in our province," he said.

Calingin recalled that former governor Vicente Emano, now the mayor of this Northern Mindanao city, made history when he convinced communist rebels to agree to a cessation of hostilities with his administration during the Christmas season in the early 1990s.

Emano achieved this despite the failure of the national government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front to agree to a ceasefire at that time.

However, Maj. Johnny Macanas, spokesman of the 4th Infantry Division, said their official stand is to abide by "whatever the decision of our national headquarters."

For a local ceasefire to really work, Macanas said Calingin should also talk with Maj. Gen. Alfonso Dagudag, commanding officer of the 4th Infantry Division based in Barangay Patag this city.