CPP declares holiday truce

MANILA, Philippines - The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) will implement a 12-day holiday ceasefire in support of calls to resume the stalled peace talks with the government.

Luis Jalandoni, chairman of the negotiating pane of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), said the truce would take effect from Dec. 23, 2015 to Jan. 3, 2016. The NDFP negotiates with the government in behalf of the CPP and its political arm, the New People’s Army (NPA).

“This ceasefire order is being issued in solidarity with the Filipino people’s traditional celebrations of Christmas and New Year holidays. This will also enable the revolutionary forces to carry out mass assemblies and public demonstrations to mark the 47th anniversary of the CPP and celebrate revolutionary victories of the past year,” Jalandoni said in a statement.

“This ceasefire order is also being issued in support of efforts of peace advocates to foster the resumption of GPH (Government of the Philippines)-NDFP peace negotiations,” he added.

The government has yet to reciprocate the CPP’s declaration. Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla, however, said observing a ceasefire during the Christmas season has been a tradition.  

“Once the president, who is also our commander-in-chief, approves it (recommendation to observe a ceasefire), we will announce it so that our countrymen will know,” Padilla said.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines hopes that the CPP and its armed unit, the NPA, will strictly abide by this self-declared ceasefire and will live up to their promise of non-violent and peaceful holidays for the Filipino and their members.”

Last year, the government declared a ceasefire that took effect on December 18 until January 19. The CPP declared a shorter and staggered truce during the same period.

The rebels’ ceasefire took effect from December 24 until December 26 and from December 31 to January 1. The truce resumed from January 15 to 19 in deference to the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines.  

Jalandoni said all NPA units and militias would “cease and desist from carrying out offensive military operations” against the military and police.

He said soldiers and policemen “who have no serious liabilities other than their membership in their armed units shall not be subjected to arrest or punitive actions.”

“They may be allowed individually to enter the territory of the people’s democratic government to make personal visits to relatives and friends,” Jalandoni said.

Jalandoni said all NPA units and militias would remain on defensive mode during the ceasefire period. Communist forces, however, were ordered to “maintain a high degree of militancy and vigilance against any hostile actions or movements of the enemy armed forces.

Jalandoni said such hostile actions include the conduct of what the military described as “peace and development,” “civil-military” and “peace and order” operations.

“Active-defense operations shall be undertaken only in the face of clear and imminent danger and actual armed attack by the enemy forces,” he added.

The NPA has about 4,000 members nationwide, based on latest military estimates. –  with Levi Mora