Ka Roger: No Christmas ceasefire

TARLAC CITY – The communist-led New People’s Army will not declare a Christmas holiday ceasefire.

Communist Party of the Philippines spokesman and NPA chieftain Rogelio "Ka Roger" Rosal issued this declaration in a special edition of Ang Bayan, the official newspaper of the CPP, dated Dec. 4, that is being circulated here.

According to Rosal, the continuous waging of hostilities by communist rebels against the government this Yuletide Season is "in accordance with the decision of the leadership of the (CPP) and the NPA."

Since the martial law years, the CPP-NPA has been annually observing a Christmas holiday ceasefires to provide their leaders and fighters time to visit their respective families.

Earlier, Malacañang issued a directive ordering the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to strictly observe a holiday ceasefire with the Marxist groups CPP-NPA, Proletarian Revolutionary Party-Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (PRP-RPA-ABB), Marxist-Leninist Party of the Philippines-Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan (MLPP-RHB), including the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front-Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (MILF-BIAF).

Rosal disclosed that "all units of the (NPA have been) ordered to continue and further intensify tactical offensives against the Estrada regime in response to the widespread call by the people to intensify all forms of struggle to end the despicable government."

In a separate statement, CPP founding chairman, Jose Ma. Sison, vehemently denied reports that the NPA has been ordered to deploy its forces at the outskirts of Manila to siege Malacañang.

"A consensus exists within the broad united front of the Left, middle and anti-Estrada Right to undertake peaceful, massive and militant protest actions nationwide which shall culminate in the sustained encirclement of the Presidential Palace by at least one million people until Mr. Estrada resigns," said Sison.

According to Rosal, "The NPA will not declare a ceasefire to deny (President) Estrada the opportunity to buy time and order the AFP-PNP to focus on attacking and causing harm to the millions of people rising in the resistance against (the government)."– Benjie Villa