MANILA, Philippines - The government peace panel welcomed yesterday the declaration by the New People’s Army (NPA) of a Christmas ceasefire and its willingness to help in the rescue operations for the victims of tropical storm “Sendong.”
The government peace panel is displeased by the attacks against government forces by NPA rebels despite the declaration of a unilateral ceasefire to enable soldiers to conduct search and rescue operations. It, however, welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire.
“Their declaration of abbreviated ceasefires and willingness to assist in the rescue and relief operations in areas affected by storm Sendong are most welcome,” it said in a statement.
The military, for its part, yesterday challenged the communist rebels to honor the holiday ceasefire they declared by not committing atrocities against soldiers and civilians.
“We hope they (rebels) prove their sincerity after declaring a holiday ceasefire,” Army spokesman Maj. Harold Cabunoc said.
“We are aware of the incidents in the past wherein the rebels took advantage of the SOMO (suspension of offensive military operations) in order to carry out treacherous attacks against our soldiers and vital installations we are protecting,” he added.
Cabunoc said the rebels should “rethink their options by embracing lasting peace.”
“The door to peace and reconciliation is widely opened for all of them,” he said.
The government peace panel, meanwhile, wants to extract a commitment from the National Democratic Front-Communist Party of the Philippines (NDF-CPP), the political arm of the NPA, for a longer ceasefire to enable people in conflict-affected areas to celebrate the Yuletide season.
“We are heartened that the NDF-CPP-NPA have found it in their hearts to declare ceasefires on Christmas and New Year and give its fighters a respite from their life of violence,” the government panel said. – With Alexis Romero