CPP-NPA won’t declare holiday ceasefire

MANILA, Philippines — The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) will not be calling a holiday ceasefire with state security forces and has given the green light to its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), to carry out tactical offensives against state troopers.

In a statement yesterday, the CPP urged the NPA to “defend the masses and themselves against the attacks of the AFP and frustrate the enemy’s armed offensives and plans to terrorize the masses during these holidays.”

“They can carry out tactical offensives especially against attacking troops of the enemy, particularly those who have perpetrated massacres and extrajudicial killings and who are notorious for grave abuses and violations of human rights,” the CPP said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier said they would not be holding a holiday ceasefire with the communists, taking their cue from President Duterte who ruled out any truce until the end of his term.

Shutting their doors on a ceasefire, according to the CPP, stemmed from the “vicious attacks” by the AFP and PNP in cities and the countryside, citing how state forces had always been “treacherous” in taking advantage of holiday ceasefires to carry out offensives.

“The fascists have always displayed heavy-handed disregard of people’s holidays and disrespect for their customs and traditions,” the CPP said, adding how the Duterte administration’s state terrorist attacks and red-tagging have made joyful holiday celebrations impossible.

The CPP, which will mark its 52nd anniversary on Dec. 26, also urged all party committees, NPA units and mass organizations to carry out secret meetings and assemblies for their founding anniversary commemoration this year.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana shrugged off the CPP’s statement that it would also not declare a truce with the AFP.

Lorenzana said that ceasefires in the past worked in the favor of the CPP-NPA because they use the truce to resupply, refurbish, regroup and go to communities to recruit members.

He rejected the claims of the communists that it is the AFP that continues to operate against them even when a truce is in effect.

“If you remember, President Duterte was furious because the rebels ambushed two soldiers in Bukidnon during a ceasefire in February 2017.

Lorenzana said the AFP does not launch attacks when it declares a ceasefire as all troops remain in barracks, camps or detachments. – Michael Punongbayan, Emmanuel Tupas, Romina Cabrera