Reds declare unilateral holiday ceasefire

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The central committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) yesterday declared a five-day ceasefire for Christmas and New Year’s Day.

The ceasefire, the CPP said, takes effect from Dec. 24 to Dec. 26 and from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1, 2019.

For its part, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it would not recommend a suspension of military operations (SOMO) during the holidays.

“To me, to us, it’s a gambit that they want to do so that we will answer (also with a ceasefire), but we already learned our lessons of the past,” military spokesman Brig Gen. Edgard Arevalo said.

All commands and units of the New People’s Army (NPA), the CPP’s armed wing, and people’s militias were ordered to observe the ceasefire “in unity with the Filipino people’s observance of traditional holidays and to provide the people and their revolutionary forces a brief period to pay tribute to their heroes and martyrs as they mark and celebrate the party’s upcoming 50th anniversary.”

The CPP added that during the ceasefire, the NPA and people’s militias “shall cease and desist from
carrying out offensive military campaigns and operations against uniformed and armed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police.”

But all units and commands of the NPA were directed to stay on alert in an “active defense mode” during the ceasefire period.

The CPP also warned that the unilateral ceasefire “can be cut short or canceled if AFP military offensives, armed suppression against communities and attacks against activists by the Duterte regime worsen in the next few days and weeks,” adding that “it can also be extended by a few days if positive conditions arise.”

The CPP celebrates its 50th founding anniversary on Dec. 26, vowing a celebration “through heightened resistance against the US-Duterte regime.”“The revolutionary people are set to recite poems, sing and dance in joyous celebration of their victories and achievements attained with the party’s leadership and guidance,” the CPP said.  – With Edith Regalado, Michael Punongbayan, John Unson