Soldiers and communist rebels agree on truce around volcano

Manila: Soldiers and members of the communist New People's Army (NPA) have agreed to forge a temporary ceasefire, to allow government services to flow to residents near a restive volcano in the southern Luzon.

The Philippine government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the political arm of the NPA, agreed to hold a temporary truce in Sorsogon, where the restive Bulusan volcano is located. The volcano has shown signs of imminent explosion since March this year.

It was the first ceasefire agreement forged by the two camps this year.

Peace talks

Every year end or before the Holiday Season both camps unilaterally declared cessation of hostilities. Peace talks between the Philippine government and the communist led-National Democratic Front (NDF) began in 1992, but bogged down in 2004.

"Now I can focus on patrolling within the evacuation centre, a safer place where many residents from the top of Mount Bulusan were placed," said 2nd Lt Jovi Almondia of the Philippine Army.

He commands Charlie "Wild", a company that that escorted villagers in Inlagadian town, every time they returned to their homes from the evacuation centre.

"My men can now patrol every day within the evacuation centre for 24 hours," said Almondia.