AFP: Communists have nothing to celebrate
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday advised peace-loving Filipinos to take extra caution and remain vigilant against attacks from the Communist Party of the Philippines New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) which marks its 50th founding anniversary today, stressing that they have nothing to celebrate and no achievement to be proud of.
The military said that that CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison has ordered communist rebels them to escalate attacks and violence during the Christmas season.
In a statement, AFP spokesman Colonel Noel Detoyato
said the threat of heightened atrocities marks another year of violence and manifests their nature as a terror group that works to undermine the government, disrupt national development, and damage public and private properties – all to the inconvenience of the Filipino people.
“As far as we, peace-loving Filipinos, are concerned, the CPP-NPA-NDF has nothing to celebrate and no achievement to be proud of,” Detoyato said.
“Our soldiers on the ground and at all levels of command will continue to monitor and conduct security operations against the CPP-NPA-NDF. We are ready to secure any community threatened by them especially during this season of Christmas celebration,” he added.
Detoyato said the AFP's lines of communication are also open to those who wish to take this opportunity to abandon the armed struggle and violence perpetrated by the CPP-NPA-NDF and embrace a life of peace and prosperity with their family.
The alert level, he said, will be determined by field commanders on the ground.
The government had earlier rejected proposal to reciprocate the annual declaration of truce by the NPA.
More rights violations feared
Meanwhile, the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP), a peace advocate group, said President Duterte's order to the military to “destroy” the NPA is worrisome.
The PEPP, which is composed of five church institutions or groups, said they are particularly worried about the escalation of violence and human rights violations that will surely ensue because of such statement.
“As leaders of churches in the country, we are troubled by this announcement and the escalation of violence and violation of human rights that will surely ensue,” read their statement, titled “Our Enduring Call this Christmas: Resume GRP-NDFP Peace Talks!”
“As we celebrate the day of birth of Jesus Christ, the bearer of hope, we affirm our belief that peace is possible through principled dialogue and that the peace talks are still the most viable option to attain a just and enduring peace in the country,” it further read.
The group said House Resolution 2339, which the House of Representatives adopted to urge President Duterte to resume peace talks with the NDFP was a piece of good news for peace advocates like them.
PEPP called on President Duterte to heed the House resolution and continue the peace negotiations with the NDFP and resume the formal peace talks. (With a report from Leslie Ann G. Aquino)