ILOILO City – There will be no ceasefire for the New People’s Army (NPA) this holiday, according to the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID).
Lieutenant Colonel J-Jay Javines, spokesperson of the 3ID, said there would be no let-up for rebels who refused to surrender and continued to fight government forces.
“Whatever the order from the national headquarters is, we will follow, but as of now, we have not received one so our offensive operations continue,” Javines said.
Recently, National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año, in a statement, said he is not in favor of a suspension of military operations (SOMO) during Christmas and New Year because rebels, on the other hand, continue their anti-government operations.
“I don’t recommend SOMO; I don’t recommend any ceasefire. The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the NPA, continue their anti-government operations during the holidays,” Año said.
“Why do you have to recommend that if we know that the CPP-NPA, particularly the NPA, engages in violent activities? We are aiming for an objective, especially the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), so let us allow the AFP to accomplish their objective,” Año added.
Meanwhile, 3ID commander Major General Marion Sison again called on the rebels to surrender and celebrate the holidays with their family and relatives.
“We are calling the rebels to surrender and celebrate Christmas with your family. Otherwise, they will just starve. We have to give them the chance to live in peace,” Sison said./PN
