(Eagle News) — Malacañang said that the decision to declare a holiday truce with the communist rebels this coming holiday season rests on President Rodrigo Duterte.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that President Duterte and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana already had talks on the matter.
During the discussion, the defense department stated its negative position on the holiday ceasefire with New People’s Army (NPA).
The military believes that based on experience, the communist rebels only used such a ceasefire as an opportunity to recruit new members and to propagate their propaganda.
However, Panelo said the President has yet to decide on the ceasefire with the NPA.
The communist group on Friday, December 7 announced a temporary ceasefire that would take effect on December 24 at 12:01 AM to December 26 at 11:59 PM, and December 31 at 12:01 AM to January 1, 2019 at 11:59PM.
“During the days covered by this temporary ceasefire declaration, all units of the NPA (new People’s Army) and people’s militias shall cease and desist from carrying out offensive military campaigns and operations against uniformed armed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP),” a statement from the CPP Central Committee read.
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