Palace hoping, but not expecting truce declaration from CPP-NPA

Malacañang is not expecting the communist rebels to reciprocate the unilateral Christmas ceasefire declared by President Duterte but hopes that they allow the people to celebrate the holidays without apprehension.

The Palace announced Thursday that Duterte has ordered an eightday suspension of combat operations (SOCO) against the Communisty Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the SOCO is from 6 p.m. on December 23 to 11:59 p.m. on December 26 and from 6 p.m. on December 30, to 11:59 p.m. on January 2.

Malacañang earlier said that the SOCO will be from December 24 to January 2, 2018.

According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, Duterte is not expecting the NPA to reciprocate the government’s gesture.

“He has no expectations whatsoever. He’s hopeful but if not, then it will prove what he has been saying all along that the NPA are treacherous. So the ball is in the court of the NPA,” he said.

Roque reiterated that Duterte declared the SOCO so the Filipino people can celebrate Christmas with less worries.

“He did it for the Filipino people. He wants the Filipino people to have less things to worry about because Christmas is a time for celebration,” he said.

Roque, however, assured that even with the SOCO, the government forces will not let their guard down.

“Make no mistake about it, we will not fire but if fired upon, of course, the Armed Forces has every right to defend itself,” he said.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar, in a radio interview Thursday morning, said the SOCO is for the soldiers, not the NPA.

The suspension of offensive military operations has been a customary move by both sides since the launch of formal talks in the late 1980s.