Maoist rebels announce holiday truce

THE Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Monday said that its armed wing would observe a unilateral holiday ceasefire, placing Maoist rebels on a defensive posture amid continuing clashes with government forces in the countryside.

In a statement, the CPP said units of the New People’s Army (NPA) would refrain from launching offensive operations from Dec. 25 to 26 and again from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1 to mark the Christmas and New Year holidays, as well as the group’s anniversary celebrations. Desp

ite the truce, it said its fighters would remain on “high alert.” “This te

mporary ceasefire order is being issued in solidarity with the Filipino people as they conduct simple celebrations of their traditional holidays, amid grave social and economic conditions,” it said. During the c

easefire periods, NPA units were ordered to stay vigilant and ready to respond if necessary. “All Red com

manders and Red fighters must remain on high alert… and must be ever ready to maneuver or counter-attack, when necessitated by the situation.” The Department of

National Defense dismissed the announcement as a “sad propaganda stunt,” saying the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) would continue its security operations throughout the holidays. “Military duties are n

ot subject to pause or seasons,” the Defense department said in a statement, adding that troops would remain focused on protecting communities and maintaining peace and order. The NPA has been fighting

the government for more than five decades, making it one of the world’s longest-running insurgencies. However, the movement has si

gnificantly weakened since its peak in the 1980s. Armed communist fighters hav