Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 23) – The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) announced that all its units will observe a two-day ceasefire beginning Christmas day, as it marks its 55th anniversary on Dec. 26.
“The two-day ceasefire aims to allow the peasant masses and NPA [New People’s Army] units in their area to conduct assemblies, meetings or gatherings to celebrate the Party’s anniversary,” the CPP said Saturday in a statement.
“This ceasefire declaration is also in solidarity with people’s traditional holiday celebrations,” it added.
However, the NPA is placed on high alert and ordered to be vigilant and “ready to act in self-defense” against “hostile actions.”
“Guerrilla offensives of the NPA can resume immediately at 0001 hours of December 27,” the CPP said.
The CPP-NPA earlier said it supported the resumption of peace talks with the government but demanded the abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
In response, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez said there should be no demands that can derail the peace talks.
