CPP declares two-day unilateral ceasefire on 55th anniversary

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) declared a unilateral ceasefire from December 25 to 26 in observation of its 55th anniversary.

In a statement, the CPP said the ceasefire will start 12:01 a.m. on Monday and end at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday.

“To mark the significance of the upcoming 55th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines, we hereby declare to all units of the New People's Army across the country to observe a two-day suspension of tactical offensives starting at 0001 hours of December 25 and ending on 2359 hours of December 26,” it said.

The offensive operations of the New People's Army will resume at 12:01 a.m. on December 27, according to the CPP.

Earlier, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)said it ruled out declaring a ceasefire with the CPP-NPA for the Christmas season.

“Ceasefire is ruled out because of leadership vacuum within the CPP after the neutralization of many of its top leaders,” AFP spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar said. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA Integrated News