National Democratic Front (NDF) peace negotiating panel chair Luis Jalandoni on Friday said they cannot give an immediate report on the incident involving suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) who allegedly attacked government troops in Davao del Norte on Wednesday.

In an interview with Mornings@ANC, Jalandoni said they welcome the administration's unilateral ceasefire and share its commitment to lasting peace, but it will take "a day or two" to really know what happened in Davao del Norte.

"What happened there in that exact incident, we have to find out and we stated that we cannot get it in such a short time of a few hours. We have to get the report from the side of the NPA in the area so that it will be an accurate check on what really happened," he said.

"Perhaps we can get it in a day or two but not in a few hours," he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte gave the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the NDF only until Thursday night to explain reports that five Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) members were ambushed by their members.

READ: Duterte warns CPP: Honor the truce or ceasefire is over

Jalandoni said they have reported to Duterte that the CPP's declaration of the ceasefire is "forthcoming," and the NPA throughout the country is now on 'active defensive mode.'

But he cited, they have reports that several troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Cagayan, and Surigao haven't carried out Duterte's orders.

Meanwhile, Jalandoni said the release of 11 NDF consultants is a positive step even if the joint statement signed in Oslo, Norway last month recommended 22.

“We know it could be a process so based on that, we will be discussing with Chairman [Silvestre] Bello of GRP [Government of the Republic of the Philippines] Panel and as well as we can convey to Duterte through various channels that we will be pushing for the release of 22 NDFP peace consultants as stated in the joint statement in Oslo," he said.

The non-release of the other 11 consultants will not be a deal-breaker as long as both sides are "exerting best efforts, are committed to push through with resumption of formal peace talks, and to seek just and lasting peace," added Jalandoni.

JOMA SISON'S RETURN

Despite Duterte's guarantee of a safe pass for leaders of the CPP, and other rebel leaders, communist leader Jose Maria Sison has only been granted a return visa to The Netherlands from Norway where they conducted the peace talks, said Jalandoni.

"[The safety conduct pass] will be another matter that still has to be worked out. Joma Sison is very appreciative of the offer of President Duterte because he himself would like to be able to go home to visit relatives friends and comrades but of course he has to pay attention to the requirements," he said.

Jalandoni said the Dutch government refused to grant Sison permanent residence, which he would need to be able to come back to his family currently residing there and join the negotiations. Jalandoni said Sison is also looking into fellowships to peace institutes in Europe.

“If he gets fellowship and residence in Norway he would be able to come back to Europe and come back to the Netherlands. That is being explored, but of course, for Professor Sison, he needs assurance that if he goes back to the Philippines, he can come back to join peace negotiations that will be held in Oslo and that he can come back and be with his family," he said.