Army troops are on high alert in preparation for the 56th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines today (Thursday, December 26).
“Our troops on the frontlines are reminded to stay on alert and conduct continuous internal security operations to ensure peace and order in their respective areas of operation, allowing the Filipino people to celebrate this holiday season peacefully with their families,” Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said.
He, however, said the Army does not find it necessary to declare a heightened alert for the CPP’s anniversary.
This year, both the CPP and the government did not declare a holiday truce.
CPP spokesman Marco Valbuena, for his part, said: “Units of the NPA and local peasant mass organizations in the countryside are busy preparing meetings and small assemblies in order to celebrate past victories, take stock of weaknesses and strengths, and reaffirm their resolve to wage greater struggles in the coming year.”
Valbuena criticized what he described as “successive insurgency-free declarations” by administration officials and military officers.
“These only strengthen the resolve of the Filipino people, the Party and the New People’s Army to spread the flames of the people’s war,” he added.
Despite the lack of a holiday ceasefire, peace talks between the government and communist rebels have inched forward with the signing of a joint communique last year.
Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (PAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said in an earlier interview that both sides continue to conduct exploratory talks.
He expressed optimism that a final peace accord can be forged “within the term of the President – or even before the term ends.”
The joint communique was signed by Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr., representing the government, and Luis Jalandoni, a member of the National Executive Council of the National Democratic Front for the communist group.
The document states that both sides have agreed on a principled and peaceful resolution to the armed conflict.
Both sides likewise agreed to engage in dialogues to establish a peace and transformation framework that focuses on addressing the socio-economic and political drivers of the armed conflict.
Signing as witnesses were Galvez and retired General Emmanuel Bautista for the government, and Julieta de Lima, the interim chairperson of the negotiating panel of the NDF, along with Coni Ledesma, a member of the NDF negotiating panel.
“The President is very committed to finish all agreements and implement it during his term. That was his guidance to us and we commit to the aspiration of the President and the national government that we will finish the final peace agreement with the CPP-NDF-NPA in the future,” Galvez added.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Army on alert as CPP anniversary nears.”
