Ka Oris: NPA fully supports the CPP-CC’s Unilateral Ceasefire Declaration
The New People’s Army, through its National Operations Command (NOC), expresses full support to the letter and spirit of the unilateral ceasefire declaration issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines last December 22. The NPA-NOC reiterates the CPP-CC’s nationwide ceasefire order to all commands and units of the New People’s Army (NPA) and the people’s militias that took effect last 0000H of 23 December 2019 2359H of 7 January 2020.
The New People’s Army fully adheres to the objective of the ceasefire as outlined by the CPP-CC’s ceasefire declaration, to wit: “The purpose of the reciprocal and unilateral ceasefires is to generate a positive atmosphere conducive to the holding of informal talks preparatory to the formal meeting to resume the peace negotiations. These shall be measures of goodwill and confidence building during the traditional celebrations of Christmas and New Year holidays.”
All units and members of the NPA are duty bound to implement the CPP-CC order that further states: “During the ceasefire period, all NPA units and people’s militias shall cease and desist from carrying out offensive military operations against the armed units and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other paramilitary and armed groups attached to the GRP.”
At the same time, the NPA-NOC echoes the precautionary reminder of the CC that while maintaining a defensive mode, units of the NPA and people’s militias “shall nonetheless maintain a high degree of militancy and vigilance against any hostile actions or movements contrary to the ceasefire order. Active-defense operations shall be undertaken only in the face of clear and imminent danger and actual armed attack by hostile forces.”
It should be noted that on the first day of the ceasefire the AFP-PNP-CAFGU and other paramilitary units under the supervision of the AFP have violated their own ceasefire in Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Agusan del Sur. There are also still unconfirmed reports of similar violations, as well as build up of military forces in NPA areas, committed by the GRP armed forces in other regions nationwide. It is therefore imperative that all units and personnel of the NPA and people’s militias shall not let down their guards against possible enemy attacks during the duration of the ceasefire and ready to give battle if the situation demands as a measure of self-defense.
To be able to monitor the overall implementation of the said nationwide ceasefire the CC further ordered: “All branches and committees of the CPP, units of the NPA and people’s militias and revolutionary mass organizations should closely monitor any hostile actions being carried out by the armed units and personnel of the GRP. Such information should be reported to the concerned commands of the New People’s Army and leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines.”
In this regard, all NPA political officers and guides must immediately report any military incident in their respective areas of operations to their respective commands and Party committees. All reports must also be submitted to the NPA-NOC as well as the Central Committee and its Information Bureau. To fully inform the public regarding the actual conduct and situation of the ceasefire on the ground, all NPA spokesperson at all levels should issue appropriate press releases and make themselves available to the media regarding said incidents in their AOR.