Leftist rebel group to declare truce for holiday season

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said today that it will declare a unilateral ceasefire with the government troops for its 45th founding anniversary and in observance of the Yuletide season.

In a statement on its website, the leftist rebel group urged the Aquino administration to order the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to stand down on Dec. 26 and the days leading to it, in order to allow the scores of thousands of people to peacefully join its anniversary celebrations in different parts of the country.

"The leadership of the CPP is set to declare a ceasefire in order to pave the way for the national celebrations of the CPP's 45th anniversary as well as to give way to the Filipino people's traditional observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays," it said.

The CPP, the umbrella organization of the New People's Army- National Democratic Front (NPA-NDF), however, did not say when the truce will be declared.

The Philippine government earlier said that it would declare its own suspension of offensive military and police operations in observance of Christmas season but the dates were also yet to be announced.