4-day Lenten truce with Reds declared

Contrary to her earlier declaration, President Arroyo ordered yesterday a four-day Lenten truce with the New People’s Army (NPA), from Maundy Thursday until Easter Sunday.

Mrs. Arroyo had rejected Sunday a proposal of Palawan Rep. Abraham Mitra for a Holy Week ceasefire with the NPA, but she was later convinced by Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes to agree to a truce.

The President told reporters her declaration of a ceasefire might persuade the NPA to free Army Sgt. Jeremias Rosete, who has been in captivity since September last year.

"With the NPA, we will have a ceasefire this Holy Week," she said. "So perhaps, the CPP-NPA should take this Holy Week period to release Sgt. Rosete. So I call upon (the CPP-NPA) to release Sgt. Rosete. Have pity on (his) family."

Mrs. Arroyo said she need not issue a proclamation as it would be up to Armed Forces chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva to order troops in the field to observe the four-day truce.

"It’s the military that gives orders down the line," she said.

She said over Bombo Radyo yesterday the government cannot give in to an NPA demand for a limited ceasefire in Central Mindanao before agreeing to free Rosete.

"The NPA could have released Sgt. Rosete at the nearby Marbel Church during the Christmas ceasefire," she said. "Why did they not release (him) at that time?"

Mrs. Arroyo said the Rosete family should appeal to the NPA and not the government for a ceasefire so the soldier could be immediately freed.

"Why appeal to the government?" she asked. "I suggest to the Rosete family that they should appeal to the NPA. It’s Holy Week. So the NPA should take this opportunity to release Sgt. Rosete."

If the NPA is sincere is releasing Rosete, it should have freed him when she declared a unilateral ceasefire during the Christmas holidays last year, Mrs. Arroyo added. — Marichu Villanueva