Despite holiday truce, Army to remain on alert

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines - – The Philippine Army in Northern Mindanao will remain on alert despite the the suspension of military operations during the Christmas season, said Capt. Christian Uy, spokesman for the 4th Infantry Division.

Uy said the military would be on a defensive mode from Dec. 21 until Jan. 15 next year.

“But we will strengthen our monitoring of possible New People’s Army activities,” he said.

The National Democratic Front-Communist Party of the Philippines (NDF-CPP) will be marking its 45th anniversary on Dec. 26 and has declared a ceasefire effective Dec. 24 to 25, and Dec. 31 to Jan. 2, 2014.

Uy said the alert status would continue so the military could react immediately to any threat from the communist rebels.

He said the soldiers will be given time to spend the Christmas with their families.

“But I can’t tell how the system will be implemented as it is partly operational,” he said.

Uy said the soldiers would not be required to seal their M16 rifles like what the Philippine National Police did.

“This is because the standard issue to policemen are handguns and to soldiers are rifles,” he said as he reiterated the order from the headquarters for the soldiers not to fire their rifles in celebrating the New Year.

“That is going to be a criminal offense,” he said.