Palace: Duterte adjusts holiday ceasefire with Reds

President Rodrigo Duterte has adjusted the dates of the government’s holiday ceasefire with the communist rebels, Malacañang said on Thursday.

“The Executive Secretary confirmed that the ceasefire decided upon the President is now from December 23, 6.pm. until December 26, 11:59 p.m. and from December 30, 6 p.m. to January 2 [2018], 11:59 p.m.,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said at a briefing in Malacañang.

Roque on Wednesday initially announced that the suspension of combat operations as ordered by the President would be on December 24, 2017 to January 2, 2018.

But he said that he did not know why Duterte adjusted the dates of the ceasefire.

“Well, the President asked me to announce it [at] our Cabinet Christmas party. But it is always the President’s prerogative to change his decision. That’s part of Executive power,” he said.

“I have no information and why the dates were altered… The President doesn’t have to explain,” he added. — MDM, GMA News