The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has ordered the New People’s Army (NPA) to implement a four-day ceasefire during Christmas and New Year.
The CPP said the unilateral ceasefire declaration will take effect from midnight of December 25 to one minute before midnight of December 27 and again on midnight of New Year’s eve, December 31, until one minute before January 2.
“On the above specified days, all units of the NPA are directed to go into active defense mode especially in the face of relentless military operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against peasant communities and guerrilla fronts across the country,” the CPP said.
Traditionally implemented by the CPP and the NPA, Yuletide ceasefire declarations are sometimes reciprocated by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), particularly during formal and back-channel peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
The GRP has yet to respond to this year’s ceasefire declaration by the CPP.
Founded in December 26, 1968, the CPP is set to celebrate its 57th founding anniversary next week.
GRP President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July has ordered his government’s security forces to eliminate the NPA once and for all at year’s end.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines reported earlier this year that there are zero active NPA guerilla fronts left in the country, marking GRP’s strategic victory over the underground revolutionary army.
A series of armed encounters between the AFP and the NPA ensued across the country after the president’s SONA, however, belying Manila’s claims.
Last Saturday, another armed encounter between the NPA and the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippines Army happened in San Jose de Buan, Samar province.
The clash happened at 1:32 in the morning, resulting in the death of two government troopers reportedly belonging to the Military Intelligence Battalion of the AFP unit.
NPA-Western Samar spokesperson Tirado Dagohoy reported one NPA fighter sustained a minor injury and “easily evaded the enemy.”
The CPP said that during their ceasefire, all Red commanders and Red fighters must remain on high alert against treacherous ground and aerial attacks of the AFP.
“They must work closely with the masses, and must be ever ready to maneuver or counter-attack, when necessitated by the situation,” it said.
During these days, units of the NPA and local peasant organizations are enjoined to conduct cultural and education activities, to deepen their understanding of the crisis of the rotten ruling system under the corrupt and fascist Marcos regime, and heighten their resolve to defend their rights, and fight for their aspirations for land, justice and freedom, it added.
The CPP said the temporary ceasefire order is being issued in solidarity with the Filipino people as they conduct simple celebrations of their traditional holidays, amid grave social and economic conditions. # (Raymund B. Villanueva, reporting in Kathmandu, Nepal)
