‘Truce with NPA still possible’

Malacañang seems to be softening its stand not to declare a unilateral ceasefire with the New People’s Army (NPA) despite intensified attacks and atrocities committed by the communist insurgents, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said yesterday.

In an interview, Ermita said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Generoso Senga is likely to submit his recommendation this week for a limited ceasefire for the duration of the Christmas season.

"Well, in all probability, I would not want to guess, but, if we go by tradition, there could be (a ceasefire)," Ermita said. "As to how long (it will last) and when (it will be declared), that is still being studied."

"Even if there is a ceasefire, our soldiers are always ready to prevent any untoward incidents or stop any attacks by the NPA," he added.

However, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales told reporters that "there are no serious discussions" yet on the matter of declaring a unilateral ceasefire.

"It depends on the actuations of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP and) NPA," Gonzales told reporters at Villamor Airbase after attending the sendoff for President Arroyo yesterday. "If they continue with their stance now to increase their pressure on the Armed Forces, how can you have the ceasefire?"

Ermita said CPP founder Jose Ma. Sison, using the nom de guerre Armando Liwanag, has ordered the NPA to intensify their attacks on government forces.

It is for issuing such orders using his nom de guerre that Sison was included in the European Union and the United States’ list of foreign terrorists. The EU and US have also included the CPP-NPA in their lists of foreign terrorist organizations.

Sison’s order came out after the National Democratic Front (NDF), the Netherlands-based umbrella organization of all underground and front organizations of the communist movement in the Philippines, pulled out of the peace talks with the Philippine government in July.

In response to the NDF pullout from the talks, the government revoked the immunity passes it granted communist negotiators and initiated efforts to arrest known communist rebels with pending criminal cases.

Talk of the government not declaring a ceasefire is often aired before Christmas. However, the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) often recommend the conduct of a temporary cessation of hostilities in mid-December to allow the soldiers and police officers some respite from offensive operations during the holidays.

The CPP-NPA has been waging an insurgency for over 30 years. The communist movement is estimated to have 10,000 followers, with over 7,000 members carrying arms.