THE Communist Party of the Philippines has ordered all units of the New People’s Army, including its militias, to implement a 12-day ceasefire “in solidarity” with the celebrations of Christmas and New Year.
“Upon the recommendation of the Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines hereby declares… a ceasefire order that will take effect from 00:01H of 23 December 2015 to 23:59H of 03 January 2016,” NDFP chairperson Luis G. Jalandoni said in a statement Tuesday.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines did not say whether they will also declare a ceasefire with the NPA as they have done in the past, but they said the communists will follow their own ceasefire declaration.
Jalandoni said the ceasefire period is favorable for the revolutionary movement to prepare for the 47th anniversary of the CPP on Dec. 26.
Before the anniversary, the NPA usually launch tactical offensives against government forces to show their strength, but Jalandoni also said the declared ceasefire “is also being issued in support of efforts of peace advocates to foster the resumption of GPH-NDFP peace negotiations.”
But again, Jalandoni said the resumption of peace talks depends on the release of the 17 NDFP “consultants” who are in government custody. The NDF claim they are among those covered by the 1996 Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees.
“During the ceasefire period, all NPA units and people’s militias shall cease and desist from carrying out offensive military operations against the armed units and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police and other paramilitary and armed groups attached to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines,” Jalandoni said.
“Personnel of the AFP and PNP who have no serious liabilities other than their membership in their armed units shall not be subjected to arrest or punitive actions. They may be allowed individually to enter the territory of the people’s democratic government to make personal visits to relatives and friends,” he expaliend.
“While all units of the NPA and the people’s militias shall be on defensive mode at both the strategic and tactical levels, they shall nonetheless maintain a high degree of militancy and vigilance against any hostile actions or movements of the enemy armed forces including encroachment on the territory of the people’s democratic government, surveillance and other offensive operations including so-called ‘peace and development’, ‘civil-military’ or ‘peace and order’ operations,” he further explained.
He said the CPP further orders the NPA to be vigilant and always on active-defense operations “in the face of clear and imminent danger and actual armed attack by the enemy forces.”
“All branches and committees of the CPP, units of the NPA and people’s militias and revolutionary mass organizations should closely monitor any hostile actions being carried out by the enemy armed forces. Such information should be reported to the concerned commands of the New People’s Army and leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines,” it said.