Reds declare two 3-day holiday ceasefires with PHL military

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has declared two three-day ceasefires with the military to mark the holidays as well as the CPP's founding anniversary.

In a statement, the CPP's Central Committee said it set a truce from 12:00 a.m. on December 24 to 11:59 p.m. on December 26, and another from 12:00 a.m. on December 31 to 11:59 p.m. on January 2, 2014. The CPP will celebrate its founding anniversary on December 26.

The government has already announced that it will observe a ceasefire this holiday season, but the dates have yet to be finalized.

The CCP said in a statement posted on its website late Tuesday: "The leadership... is set to declare a ceasefire in order to pave the way for the national celebrations of the [Party's] 45th anniversary as well as to give way to the Filipino people’s traditional observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays."

It added, however, that the New People's Army (NPA) will remain in "active defense mode" should government forces attack them.

"In the face of clear and imminent danger, NPA and people’s militia units retain the option to engage in armed hostilities as an act of self-defense and in order to prevent the enemy from unleashing its brutalities against the people," it said in a separate statement.

The CPP has also declared a ceasefire in the typhoon-hit provinces of Samar and Leyte until mid-January.

However, it said the NPA in Eastern Visayas has the right to "[cut] short the ceasefire declaration if AFP offensive operations continue to prevent the revolutionary masses from engaging in rehabilitation efforts."

Government ceasefire too

On Monday, Malacañang said the government is likely to declare a unilateral Christmas ceasefire with communist rebels this year.

"We hope the NPA-CPP-NDF would reciprocate, but as far as this government is concerned, we have traditionally declared a unilateral ceasefire every year," said Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

He added the Palace will announce the dates of the ceasefire once the details are finalized.

The Philippine military has also said it is eyeing a truce with communist rebels not only because of the holiday season but also in light of the devastation caused by recent calamities.

Last year, the AFP had a two-week holiday truce with New People's Army (NPA) rebels, while the insurgents observed its own ceasefire in places affected by Typhoon Pablo.

Peace talks between the Philippine government and the communist-led National Democratic Front broke down in April after both parties claimed the negotiations were going nowhere. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/BM/HS, GMA News