NPA in Negros declares unilateral holiday ceasefire
Credit to Author: Eugene Y. Adiong| Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2019 06:57:13 +0000
BACOLOD CITY– The New People’s Army (NPA) here will declare a holiday ceasefire against government forces if ordered by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Ka Juanito Magbanua, NPA-Apolinario Gatmaitan Command spokesmann, said the group was ready to suspend offensives against government forces for Christmas and New Year’s Day, despite a statement from the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) that there will be no ceasefire against the insurgents.
Magbanua also slammed the 3ID and “war hawks” in the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte for the failure of the resumption of peace talks, sabotaging the NPA’s goodwill measures by declaring a ceasefire for the holidays, and the government’s refusal to release Ka Frank Fernandez and Ka Cleofe Lagtapon on humanitarian grounds.
Brig. Gen. Eric Vinoya, the 3ID commander, said there would be no ceasefire with NPA insurgents and the Army would continue its pursuit operations in the region.
“There’s no ceasefire. We will continue with our relentless effort,” he said.