The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) vowed on Saturday, Dec. 23, to continue its efforts to decimate the remaining forces of communist groups in the country even as the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) announced a two-day unilateral ceasefire with the national government.

Col. Xerxes Trinidad, chief of AFP public affairs office, said troops on the ground were ordered to remain vigilant for surprise attacks despite the CPP's announcement of a ceasefire.

In a statement published on its website, the CPP declared to all the units of its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA), a suspension of tactical offensives against the military and police starting at 12:01 a.m. of Dec. 25 to 11:59 p.m. of Dec. 26.

"The task given to the AFP is clear and we will comply with it. We will be watchful and our operations will continue unabated to keep our communities safe and end the communist armed conflict, once and for all," Trinidad said.

The military viewed the declaration of suspension of hostilities by the CPP as "an empty statement" since Trinidad stressed that the communist groups "do not have the leadership and support of the masses" and "their ammunitions are depleted and their members, supporters included, are surrendering."

"Their capability to plan and stage attacks was already diminished, but we are expecting harassments to create unnecessary disturbance or noise. Nonetheless, our forces on the ground were already warned and are ready," Trinidad noted.

The CPP said the decision to declare a ceasefire was made in time for its upcoming 55th founding anniversary on Dec. 26. 

"The two-day ceasefire aims to allow the peasant masses and NPA units in their area to conduct assemblies, meetings or gatherings to celebrate the Party’s anniversary, look back at past achievements, and pay tribute to all heroes and martyrs of the Philippine revolution," CPP spokesperson Marco Valbuena said.

But Trinidad said it would be much better for the CPP and NPA to abandon the armed struggle, lay down their weapons, and return to the folds of the law "in order to be with their families" which, he noted, "is the rational path forward towards a united, peaceful, and progressive country."

Prior to this, there had been much discussion about the joint declaration of a truce between the national government and the CPP after the latter's political party, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), and the Philippine government (GRP) agreed to a "principled and peaceful resolution" of the armed conflict last month.

The GRP and NDFP signed the Oslo Joint Communique on Nov. 23 in Norway which aimed to resolve the roots of the 55-year-long communist rebellion in the country.

This came as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. granted an amnesty to  rebels and insurgents, including members of the CPP-NPA-NDFP, to encourage them to return to the folds of the law.