MANILA - Malacañang on Monday said the unilateral ceasefire with the New People's Army (NPA) is still in effect amid reports of fresh clashes between the rebels and government troops in North Cotabato.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the incident does not affect the ongoing peace talks.

"It should not affect any of the ongoing talks," he said, adding: "Simply because the talks are ongoing and we are intent on focusing on settling the matter… Ceasefire holds."

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The National Democratic Front peace panel, for its part, said they need a reason to continue with the ceasefire, considering that it has become "increasingly problematic" for them.

"Kelangan namin ng malaking reason to continue with this unilateral ceasefire na increasingly problematic para sa amin at para sa mga taga barrio na naliligalig ng AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) operations tapos nangyari pa yan..eh di additional reason," NDFP panel member Benito Tiamzon said.

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NPA rebels reportedly had an encounter with the AFP in Barangay Kisante, Makilala in North Cotabato Saturday, leading to the death of an NPA combatant.

The government peace panel is investigating the incident, which was allegedly due to the collection of revolutionary tax.

According to GRP peace panel member Hernani Braganza, a bilateral ceasefire would be more beneficial to avoid clashes between the rebels and the military.

"Malaki ang pagkakaiba ng dalawa...'yung unilateral declaration at yung bilateral declaration. 'Yung unilateral ay kanya-kanyang deklarasyon yun eh...technically, walang malinaw na patakaran, rules yung klaseng ceasefire na unilateral. samantalang bilateral ceasefire declaration is a negotiated ceasefire arrangement between the two parties," he explained.

Despite the recent encounters, Tiamzon admitted that there are solid gains in the issue of the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER) between the two panels.

According to Tiamzon, once both parties agree on the terms of the CASER, the bilateral ceasefire, and the amnesty and release of the 392 political prisoners will likely follow.

The two parties on Saturday signed the supplemental guidelines of a joint monitoring committee under the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), as peace negotiations entered its third round in Rome, Italy. - with reports from Danny Buenafe, ABS-CBN News

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