Año says no plan to extend ceasefire with Reds

April 17, 2020

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the government has no plans for now to extend the unilateral ceasefire with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) after it expired last April 15.

“It was not yet discussed but it is a prerogative of PRRD (President Rodrigo Duterte),” Año said in a Viber message to The Daily Manila Shimbun last Thursday evening.

“We’ll support whatever his decision is,” he added.

Last March 19, Duterte declared unilateral ceasefire against the CPP, New People's Army (NPA), and National Democratic Front (NDF) to allow the government forces to focus its efforts against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The communists also declared their own ceasefire last March 25 and on Thursday, they announced that they will extend for another 15 days.

The group said the extension of the ceasefire is to ensure quick and unimpeded support to all people requiring urgent medical, health and socioeconomic assistance in the face of the public emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic.” Ella Dionisio/DMS