Marcos urges defense, military to declare unilateral Christmas ceasefire
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2019 09:30:11 +0000
SEN. Maria Josefa Imelda “Imee” Marcos on Tuesday urged defense and military leaders to declare a two-day unilateral ceasefire with the New People’s Army (NPA) to allow soldiers to spend Christmas with their loved ones.
The senator has asked the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to implement a unilateral ceasefire from December 24 to December 25.
“Malaking bagay ang dalawang araw na ceasefire sa mga sundalo natin (The two-day ceasefire is a big deal with soldiers),” Marcos said in a statement.
“Ang makapiling nila ang kanilang mga pamilya kahit sa loob ng barracks ay sapat na para maipagdiwang nang mapayapa ang Pasko (The chance to be with their families even in their barracks is enough to spend the Christmas peacefully),” she said.
Marcos also said that if the NPA, the armed component of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), would not declare a ceasefire this Christmas and opt to ambush government forces, it would create a “negative effect” among their ranks and would earn the ire of Filipinos.
“Walang simpatyang makukuha ang NPA kung hindi sila magsasagawa ng sariling ceasefire (The NPA will not get any sympathy [from the people] if they will not conduct their own ceasefire),” she said.
“Magagalit sa kanila ang taumbayan na naniniwala sa kapanganakan ni Hesu Kristo at ang pagdiriwang ng Pasko (The people who believe in the birth of Jesus Christ and the celebration of Christmas will get angry with them),” Marcos said.
She expressed support for the Palace statement that the peace talks between the government and the CPP may not proceed if the NPA would continue to attack government troops. BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO