Military favors holiday truce

MANILA, Philippines - The military is in favor of declaring a truce with communist rebels, saying this would allow both the soldiers and insurgents to be with their families during the Christmas season.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Jessie Dellosa said they would recommend a suspension of offensive military operations (SOMO) during the holidays, but the final decision would come from the President.

“Of course we will recommend (the suspension of SOMO),” Dellosa told reporters during an interview Monday night.

“At least everyone can enjoy Christmas. Our soldiers and even those in the mountains will be able to enjoy Christmas,” he added.

Dellosa said they have yet to discuss how long the proposed SOMO with the New People’s Army (NPA) would last.

“More or less, it will be the same as last year,” he said.

Dellosa added he has yet to inform President Aquino and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin formally about the matter.

It has been the tradition of the military to recommend a holiday truce with the NPA to allow its troops to celebrate Christmas peacefully.

The National Democratic Front (NDF) usually reciprocates the military’s declaration by ordering its NPA fighters to refrain from attacking state troops.

Last year, the government’s ceasefire with the communist rebels took effect from Dec. 16 to Jan. 2. The rebels reciprocated the move by declaring a shorter truce that took effect from Dec. 24 to Dec. 26 and from Dec. 31 to Jan. 2.