THE government cut short its unilateral ceasefire with the communist rebels Thursday after they called the move “a farce.”
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the ceasefire, which was supposed to run continuously from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2, 2018, would now take effect from Dec. 23 6 p.m. until Dec. 26, 11:59 p.m. and from Dec. 30, 6 p.m. to Jan. 2, 11:59 p.m.
Roque said it was the prerogative of President Rodrigo Duterte to change his mind.
That is part of executive power. The President doesn’t have to explain,” Roque said.
Roque earlier said that the suspension of military operations against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front was to reduce public apprehension during the Christmas season.
In the same news briefing, Roque said he felt sorry that CPP founder Jose Maria Sison lacks the Christmas spirit after he doubted the sincerity of the government’s unilateral ceasefire.
“If Joma Sison did not feel any spirit of Christmas because of the SOMO, well, I feel sorry for him. That’s what happens when you’re not here in the Philippines anyway,” Roque said.
“We should be thankful that the President is pushing through with the unilateral ceasefire altogether. He could have ignored it completely and not declared anything,” he added.
In an interview Wednesday with the Manila Standard, Sison, whose is in exile in The Netherlands, called the suspension of military operations a “farce” and said the NPA rebels “will remain on alert against attacks from the AFP and the PNP.”
“How do you comment to someone who says that wanting peace during Christmastime is sham? We leave it to the people to conclude how we should react to that statement of Joma Sison,” Roque said.
“I stress though that as the President himself declared in [Camp] Aguinaldo, he wanted the people to have less to worry about and that is why he implemented or he will implement this ceasefire,” he added.
Roque insisted the public should be thankful to Duterte for pushing through with the unilateral ceasefire since he could have declared nothing.
Duterte had earlier expressed he was not keen on declaring a Christmas truce with the communist rebels following their continued attacks on state security forces.
However, the President said early Wednesday that if he declares a holiday truce, it would be out of consideration for the well-being of the people.
The Interior department, however, has called on the Philippine National Police to remain “vigilant” and not to let their guard down as they perform their law enforcement functions, despite the government’s declaration of a holiday ceasefire with the New People’s Army.
“We welcome President Duterte’s ceasefire declaration because this would give policemen and their families greater peace of mind during the holiday season. However, the PNP should never let their guards down for their own safety,” DILG officer-in-charge Undersecretary Catalino Cuy said.
Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza called the President’s decision to declare a unilateral ceasefire “a bold step.”
“It is a clear indication of his unwavering desire to bring sustainable and durable peace in the land despite the cancellation of peace negotiations with the CPP/NPA/NDF,” Dureza said in a statement.
Duterte’s peace adviser echoed Malacañang’s expectations “that the CPP-NPA-NDFP would [make] a similar gesture of goodwill.”
“Although arrived at unilaterally upon the President’s sole determination, it is my personal expectation—and the public as well, I’m sure—that the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed organs will extend reciprocity to President Duterte’s gesture for peace,” Dureza said.
The Defense department, meanwhile urged communist rebels to reflect during the holidays and seriously consider yielding to the government.
“We urge those who are waging war against our sovereign government and inflicting harm on the Filipino people to spend this period in reflection and seriously reconsider returning to the fold of law,” the statement read.