No word yet on holiday truce with reds

MANILA, Philippines - There is no word yet on whether the government will declare a holiday ceasefire with communist rebels.

The Aquino administration suspended offensive military operations against the rebels from Dec. 16 to Jan. 15 last year as a goodwill measure for the peace talks. The ceasefire, said to be the longest in recent years, was reciprocated by the Communist Party of the Philippines.

However, the government has yet to issue a pronouncement on whether a holiday truce will be declared this year.

Armed Forces spokesman Maj. Gen. Domingo Tutaan Jr. said they are still awaiting orders from their superiors on the matter. 

“Once that (ceasefire) is offered, declared by the government or by the national leadership, we will abide with it strictly,” Tutaan said.

There have been discussions about a proposal to implement the Christmas truce from Dec. 16 to Jan. 15. Malacañang, however, has yet to approve the proposal.

“The recommendation is to have a period of one month for the Christmas Yuletide season. It will take effect upon approval,” Tutaan said.

Peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) hit an impasse after the rebels demanded the release of communist leaders facing criminal charges.

The NDF claimed the jailed communist leaders were working as peace consultants and should therefore be immune from arrest.

Government negotiators, however, said there is no way to determine whether the jailed rebels, especially those using aliases, are indeed peace consultants.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles previously said the NDF is also demanding the scrapping of Pamana, a government program that aims to promote development in conflict-affected areas.

The NDF has denied stalling the talks and blamed the government for the impasse. The group also accused the Aquino administration of refusing to honor past agreements.

Meanwhile, the leader of military troops in the Visayas is amenable to a holiday ceasefire.

Armed Forces Central Command chief Maj. Gen. John Bonafos said a holiday truce would be a welcome development especially for those in typhoon-hit areas.

“We all celebrate the meaning of Christmas so the normal truce usually declared during this period will be a welcome (development),” Bonafos said.

Bonafos said violent incidents involving the New People’s Army (NPA) have gone down in areas affected by typhoon “Yolanda.” He claimed that the rebels’ activities have been disrupted due to the effects of the typhoon.

Bonafos hopes the NPA members will help in the efforts to assist the typhoon victims in the Visayas.

“This is the time for us to show our unity and concern for one another,” he said.