The possible declaration of a ceasefire between the Philippine government and communist groups led by the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in time for the Christmas season was welcomed by a ranking officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“’Yan po ang gustong-gusto ng kasundaluhan, walang putukan para makapagbakasyon tayo. Sana po kung mayroon mang ideklara ang ating gobyerno na ceasefire, sana ito ay bukas-loob din tatanggapin ng kabila (That’s what the soldiers want, that there will be no fighting so we can take a vacation. I hope that if the government will declare a ceasefire, it should be whole-heartedly accepted by the other party),” Brig. Gen. Joel Alejandro Nacnac, director of AFP Center for Law of Armed Conflict, said in a public briefing Monday, Dec. 12.

However, Nacnac noted that both parties should be sincere in adhering to the truce if such will be called.

“Siguro maganda ‘yan, sana ipatupad natin nang may sinseridad (Perhaps it would be good if we implement that with sincerity),” Nacnac said.

The practice of declaring a truce between the government and the communist groups during the Christmas break was shelved under the previous Duterte administration since military and defense leaders had believed it was only being exploited by the CPP-NPA to secretly recruit members and beef up their strength.

Former security officials had also lamented that the rebels often violate the truce as they continue to ambush soldiers or policemen even during a ceasefire.

The CPP leadership, on the other hand, had long denied such claims and accused the government of being the ones who violate the truce between them.

‘Even soldiers have human rights’

Meanwhile, Nacnac revealed that the AFP, through the Center for Law of Armed Conflict, has referred to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) a total of 1,883 cases of alleged human rights violations perpetrated by the CPP-NPA since 2010 for possible filing of cases.

“Isa ‘yan sa paradigm shift na gusto naming ipalaganap ngayon. Kasi noong mga nakaraan, ‘yung duty bearers lang ang iniipit ng ating mga namumuno sa mga human rights activities. Dapat ngayon wholistic ang paningin (That’s is included in the paradigm shift that we want to implement now. In the past, only the duty bearers are being pinned down by leaders of human rights activities),” Nacnac explained.

He argued that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, an international document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 where the Philippines is among the signatories, “does not discriminate based on color, age, educational attainment, or status in life.”

“Kaya lahat po ng sangkatauhan kasama po ang mga sundalo, pulis, military o civilians ay may karapatang pantao bawat isa. Dapat po maintiindihan ‘yan (That’s why everybody, including soldiers, policemen, military or civilians, have human rights. We need to understand that),” he said.