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DEC. 24 TO JAN. 2

Duterte orders holiday ceasefire; Palace expects Reds to do the same


President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the suspension of military operations during the holidays, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

"The President announced last night a suspension of military operations (SOMO) from December 24, 2017 to January 2, 2018," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

"This unilateral ceasefire would lessen the apprehension of the public this Christmas season. We expect that the CPP-NPA-NDFP (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines) would do a similar gesture of goodwill," he added. 

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that they will follow the directive of the President but clarified that he did not recommend the cessation of military operations.

"We will follow the directive of the President. I was actually adamant and ayaw ko sanang [mag-recommend], I did not recommend for the cessation of military operation against the CPP-NPA but if the President declared so, then we are going to implement and abide by the directive of the President," he said.

The Philippine National Police, meanwhile, said it will abide by the order as soon as it has officially received a directive from Duterte to stop police operations against the CPP-NPA-NDFP.

"The corresponding memo circular will be issued soonest so that all PNP units, offices and stations will be guided accordingly," PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos said in a statement.

Duterte at the wake of Police Officer 3 Wilfredo Gueta early Wednesday said he would consider declaring a ceasefire with the New People's Army so Filipinos could celebrate Christmastime without stress.

"Look, if I declare a ceasefire, it is not addressed to the NPAs. Rather, I would want to celebrate Christmas with the rest of humankind or Filipinos na walang stress," he said in a media interview.

"Baka sabihin nila walang ceasefire ngayon baka magkaputukan then you put a lot of strain on the people. I will think about it. That would be my primary consideration," he added. —with Marlly Rome Bondoc/KG/ALG/KBK, GMA News

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