Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 21) — The government’s declaration of a ceasefire for the holidays is most likely a trick, communist leader Joma Sison said.
“Malamang na pakunwari ang SOMO (The suspension of military operations or SOMO is most likely a pretense),” Sison said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
He was referring to the unilateral ceasefire President Rodrigo Duterte ordered to take effect from 6 p.m. on December 23 to 6 p.m. on December 26, and the same hours from December 30 to January 2, 2018.
Read more: Duterte declares unilateral holiday ceasefire with communist rebels
Sison said the NPA is bracing for possible attacks from government forces, which would be a violation of their own truce.
“Alerto lang ang NPA laban sa panlilinlang, pagsalakay at okupasyon ng kaaway sa mga baryo. Ang AFP at PNP naman ang mananalakay at mananakop,” Sison said.
[Translation: “The NPA is on alert against the deception, attack, and occupation of enemies of the barrios. The Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police are the attackers and conquerors.”]
Sison is the founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). The NDFP represents rebels in talks to end the communist movement’s 48-year-old armed insurgency, the longest-running in Asia.
However, Duterte canceled all peace talks with communists on November 23, citing a rash of violent attacks by the CPP’s armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).
Read: Duterte ends talks with Reds
DND to troops: Stay vigilant
The Department of National Defense (DND) on Thursday said the rebels should spend the holidays “in reflection and seriously reconsider returning to the fold of law.”
It also reminded security forces to remain vigilant despite the suspension of operations.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he was unaware of the President’s order, which was announced by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Wednesday, until reporters asked him about it in an interview. He also said he did not recommend the unilateral ceasefire.
However he said he will follow the President’s directive.
The truce declared by Duterte comes weeks after he severed ties with the NPA, which he declared a terrorist organization. The NPA’s designation as a terrorist organization will be official once approved by a regional trial court, according to the Human Security Act of 2007.
The government and rebels usually declare ceasefires during the holiday break. But it seemed unlikely this year after the cancellation of peace talks and the NPA’s impending terrorist tag.
