AFP won't recommend ceasefire with Reds even after holiday season

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will no longer recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte a ceasefire with the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People's Army, even after the holiday season.

This was according to AFP spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo, who also earlier announced that the armed forces would not recommend a holiday truce with the communist rebels, as it traditionally does.

"Nagsalita na ang Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas, partikular is ating Chief of Staff, General Gilbert Gapay, na hindi natin imumungkahi sa ating Pangulo na magkaroon ng holiday ceasefire," Arevalo said in a Dobol B sa News TV interview on Sunday.

"'Yung ceasefire, talagang hindi na natin 'yan irerekomenda even beyond or outside of the holiday season," he added.

Arevalo reiterated the insincerity of the communist rebels in committing to ceasefire, what with the continued attacks and extortion activities they supposedly commit even during the truce.

"Sa nagdaang pagkakataon, hindi naging sinsero o tapat itong teroristang grupong ito, and every time bina-violate nila ang sariling ceasefire na kanilang dinedeklara," he said.

Arevalo claimed that the communist rebels even launch attacks on soldiers who are not even on combat operations but on humanitarian ones.

"Tuloy ang extortion activities nila. Hindi sila humihinto and at the same time, 'yung kanilang mga krimen na ginagawa, panununog, pangingikil, at iba pang krimen kagaya ng pagpatay ay patuloy nilang ginagawa sa kabila ng umiiral na unilateral ceasefire," he added.

Arevalo said President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to decide on their recommendation not to have a ceasefire with communist rebels this holiday season.

Last year, the Philippine government and the communist group both declared ceasefire during the holiday season. It lasted from 12 a.m. of December 23, 2019 until 11:59 p.m. of January 7, 2020.

During that period of the ceasefire, respective armed units and personnel of the NPA were prevented from initiating operations against the state forces, which, in turn, only maintained defensive posture. —KG, GMA News