AFP says NPA won't honor ceasefire in light of COVID-19 after Rizal clash

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday said the New People’s Army (NPA) will ignore the ceasefire declaration in light of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

AFP chief of staff General Felimon  Santos Jr. made the statement after an encounter broke out between the groups in Rodriguez, Rizal which resulted to the death of a government soldier and a rebel.

“The New People's Army has made it clear that they will not honor their ceasefire declaration at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 28,” Santos said in a statement.

“This attack on our people throws away their so-called "humanitarian principles" and expose the exploitative nature of their ceasefire declaration,” he added.

On Saturday, a government soldier and an NPA gunman were killed when a Philippine Army Community Support Program (CSP) Team and communist insurgents clashed in Barangay Puray in Rodriguez.

According to the military, locals informed the CSP Team about the presence of the NPA gunmen and their alleged plan to attack the soldiers.

To preempt the planned attack, the soldiers went on a community defense patrol and clashed with the insurgents at around 3 p.m.

Two soldiers were also wounded in the action but both were in stable condition.

“They were planning to celebrate their anniversary on March 29 with a bang,” Santos said.

On March 18, the government declared a ceasefire with the communist rebels due to the threat of COVID-19 in the country. The Communist Party of the Philippines agreed on March 25. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News