The Philippine Online Chronicles

The government has declared a cessation of military and police operations against the armed wing of the Communisty Party of the Philippines (CPP), the New People's Army, for the next 18 days.

“There will be suspension of military operations until, if I’m not mistaken, Jan. 2 on the advice of both the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the Department of National Defense,” said President Benigno Aquino III.

“This is to give our brothers and sisters who have gone the wrong path a chance to celebrate Christmas and bond with their families and loved ones peacefully,” added Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa.

Despite the truce however, both military and police forces are directed to remain vigilant during the holidays.

National Police chief Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome clarified that the “suspension of offensive police operations does not cover normal law enforcement operations and shall be implemented without prejudice to actions aimed at protecting the people and the communities, as well as [Philippine National Police] troops and installations against insurgent or terrorist attacks that may take place during the [Suspension of Police Operations (SOPO)] period.”

No truce declaration from NPA yet

Malaya pointed out that while the NPA has traditionally reciprocated the government truce during the holidays, it has yet to declare a truce for this year.

“A decision (on the ceasefire) has yet to be transmitted. Maybe on Dec. 17 or 18 there would be an announcement,” said Marissa Palo, head of the secretariat of the National Democratic Front (NDF), the umbrella organization of communist rebels in talks with the government.

In an earlier statement, the CPP said that the military ceasefire is a means to to draw attention away from its “dismal human rights record.”

“What sense is there in declaring a ceasefire in the face of the continuing failure of the Aquino regime to put to justice officials and personnel of the AFP that have committed fascist crimes in the past?” the group added.