By Zea Capistrano and Martin Sadongdong
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Tuesday night ordered all units of the New People’s Army (NPA) to observe a nationwide unilateral ceasefire starting midnight of March 26, 2020 that will last until 11:59 p.m. of April 15, 2020.
(REUTERS/Erik De Castro / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a statement posted on its website, the CPP said the move was made upon the recommendation of the negotiating panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in response “to the call of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for a global ceasefire between warring parties for the common purpose of fighting the coronavirus disease or COVID-19 pandemic.”
Last March 19, the Philippine government (GRP) declared a unilateral ceasefire with the CPP-NPA-NDFP after President Duterte appealed to communist groups to stop their attacks on troops and help the government in dealing with the virus that has since claimed at least 35 lives. The GRP ceasefire will last until April 15.
Reacting to Guterres’ call, General Felimon Santos Jr., AFP Chief of Staff, said he “could not agree more” with UN secretary-general’s plea for an immediate ceasefire in conflicts around the world so that countries may turn their attention to fighting the dreaded disease.
Sison had earlier refused to reciprocate GRP's ceasefire offer and called it "insincere and bogus."
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.”
Read more: Duterte declares ceasefire with Reds amid COVID-19 pandemic