The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said that all units of the New People’s Army (NPA) have begun implementing the first part of its nationwide ceasefire in time for Christmas today and the Party’s 57th founding anniversary celebrations tomorrow, December 26.
The CPP announced that the NPA has suspended military operations against Government of the Republic of the Philippines rmed forces starting at midnight today until a minute before December 27.
The Party reiterated that it issued the ceasefire declaration in solidarity with the people as they hold simple celebrations of their traditional holidays “amid grave social and economic conditions.”
Various NPA units promptly signified their compliance with the order, including its Leonardo Panaligan Command (LPC) in Central Negros Island.
“The (LPC-NPA) in Central Negros strongly orders all NPA units, militias and other guerrilla units under it to firmly and strictly implement the ceasefire,” NPA-Central Negros spokesperson JB Regalado said.
Regional NPA commands in Southern Tagalog and Eastern Visayas have issued similar directives to their units, the CPP said, despite armed reported clashes with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in recent days.
The AFP refused to reciprocate CPP’s unilateral ceasefire declaration, dismissing it as a “publicity stunt.”
It also vowed full-scale security operations nationwide throughout the Christmas and New Year period.
Such response requires the NPA to maintain a defensive stance throughout the unilateral truce period, the CPP said.
“On the above specified days, all units of the NPA are directed to go into active defense mode especially in the face of relentless military operations of the AFP against peasant communities and guerrilla fronts across the country,” the CPP Central Commmittee ordered.
CPP Chief Information Officer Marco L. Valbuena noted that this stance is necessary, given President Marcos Jr.’s directive for the AFP to sustain military operations even during the holidays.
“This clearly demonstrates Marcos’ bloodlust and his intent to disrupt the Filipino people’s traditional holiday celebrations,” Valbuena said.
“He has nothing to offer the people during this season but bullets and bombs,” he added.
A second two-day ceasefire will also be observed by the NPA from 00:00 hours of December 31 until 23:59 hours of January 1, 2026. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
