CPP declares 5-day holiday ceasefire

DAVAO CITY – The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) declared a five-day unilateral ceasefire with the government forces effective from 12:01 a.m. of Dec. 24 until 11:59 p.m. of Dec. 26, 2018 and 12:01 a.m. of Dec. 31 until 11:59 p.m. of Jan. 1, 2019, in observance of the holiday season and the CPP’s 50th founding anniversary on Dec. 26.

In a statement, the CPP said its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), and people’s militias have been ordered to cease and desist from carrying out offensive campaigns and operations against the military and police.

But CPP directed them to stay on alert for active defense mode and maintain a high degree of militancy and vigilance against hostile actions or movements of the government forces and reminded them to not leave “the people defenseless and place their units in danger.”

“All Party organs and NPA units must continue to closely assess the situation, monitor enemy movements, immediately report the situation and any incident on the ground,” it said.

The communists said that the public can also visit their families and friends in areas controlled by the NPA for as long they do not commit crimes or have no “outstanding warrants for their arrest.”

Reacting to the statement of the CPP, military’s Eastern Mindanao Command public information officer Major Ezra L. Balagtey said the communists “should prove not only in words but also in deed.”

He added that the military always carry out its mandate of ensuring the community of secured and peaceful celebrations of Christmas and New Year.

The communists added the military can take a brief leave from their offensives to spend time with their families during the holidays.