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MANILA, Philippines – The army and police stand ready for attacks by communist guerrillas during the Christmas season in the absence of a holiday ceasefire, according to national security adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Wednesday (December 16).
Esperon, a former military chief of staff, made the comment after the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) ordered its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), to carry out attacks against government forces, “ in particular against those who have committed massacres and extrajudicial executions and who are known for serious abuses and violations of human rights ”.
The CPP also instructed the NPA to hold secret meetings to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the guerrilla force on December 26.
Esperon said CPP’s orders were not new. “If there is a threat from CPP-NPA, what is new? They have been there ever since with guns, ”he said in Filipino.
“We should be prepared for that. If they are planning trouble, our troops are ready, ”he said.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he was not surprised by the CPP’s orders.
“It is okay for us because we are not declaring a ceasefire. Two parties must agree to declare a ceasefire, ”Lorenzana said in Filipino.
Major General Edgard Arevalo, a spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the CPP’s orders were “immaterial.”
“After all, they have been violating that consistently and treacherously,” Arevalo said.
“Better a blatant pronouncement like that than relying on their truce declaration in the hope that this time they will keep their word,” he added.
President Rodrigo Duterte had declared that there will be no truce with the communist guerrillas this Christmas season and for the rest of his term, which ends in 2022.
TSB
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