NPA declares ceasefire for Christmas holidays

December 22, 2017

The New People's Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, on Friday declared a holiday ceasefire with the Philippine military.

In a statement, the New People's Army said "this unilateral declaration of ceasefire shall be in effect from 6 p.m. of December 23 to 6 p.m. of December 26; and 6 p.m. of December 30 to 6 p.m. of January 2, 2018."

The ceasefire is also to allow the observance of the CPP's 40th anniversary, said NPA spokesman Jorge Madlos in the statement.

On Thursday, Malacanang announced that from a 10-day suspension of offensive military operations, the ceasefire with the NPA would take effect from December 23, 6pm until Dec. 26,11:59pm and from Dec. 30, 6pm to Jan. 2, 2018, 11:59pm.

"All NPA units and people’s militias shall cease and desist from carrying out offensive military campaigns and operations against the uniformed armed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and its paramilitaries, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, " said Madlos.

Police and military personnel "who have no serious liabilities other than their membership in their armed units shall not be subjected to arrest or punitive actions. They may be allowed individually to enter the territory of the people’s democratic government to make personal visits to relatives and friends," it added. DMS