Defense chief cold on holiday truce with Communist groups
If it were only up to Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., the national government will have no truce with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), its armed wing, the National People’s Army (NPA), and political wing, National Democratic Front (NDF), this Christmas season.
In a statement Wednesday, Dec. 18, exactly a week before Christmas Day, Teodoro said that any truce that shall be made by the national government with the CPP-NDA-NDF “is a ceasefire against terrorists and criminals.”
“It is a last-ditch measure of a Jurassic group to find relevance in the national political ecosystem,” he stressed.
As of writing, the AFP’s Commander-in-Chief, President Marcos Jr., has not yet decided whether or not the government will declare a unilateral ceasefire with the Communist groups this holiday, as what has been the tradition in the previous years until the collapse of the peace talks between the two.
In 2019, the NPA attacked military and police personnel in Camarines Norte, Iloilo, and Quezon province even when a ceasefire was agreed upon by the administration of then president Rodrigo Duterte and CPP founder Jose “Joma” Sison amid hopes of reviving the stalled peace talks.
The revival of the talks never materialized.
But under the current administration, Marcos made bold steps to make peace with the CPP-NPA-NDF.
In November 2023, Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr., representing the government, and Luis Jalandoni, a member of the National Executive Council of the NDFP for the communist group, signed a joint communique as they agreed on a principled and peaceful resolution to the armed conflict, recognizing the need for the Philippines to unite "in the face of serious socioeconomic, environmental, and foreign security challenges."
Marcos also ordered the implementation of an amnesty program to the remaining members of the CPP-NPA-NDF.
However this year, the CPP said that it has no intention to declare a unilateral ceasefire due to the “unrelentless oppression by the Marcos regime, offensive operations of the military, and implementation of military law in the countryside.”
“Milyun-milyon ang nagdurusa sa lahat ng uri ng pang-aapi sa ilalim ng gerang panunupil ng rehimeng Marcos. Dagdag pa, nagdurusa rin sila sa malubhang pagpapabaya ni Marcos sa kapakanan ng milyun-milyong biktima ng mga kamakailang kalamidad. Lalo pa silang magdurusa sa susunod na taon dahil sa mga pagkakaltas ng badyet sa kalusugan at edukasyon, at pagtaas ng badyet para sa pasismo at korapsyon (Millions of people are suffering from the oppression of the Marcos regime. In addition, Marcos’ grave neglect of the welfare of millions of victims of recent calamities adds to our woes. They will suffer even more in the coming years due to the budget slash in the health and education sectors, and budget increase for fascism and corruption),” CPP chief information officer Marco Valbuena said.
He said this situation forces the New People’s Army to push forward their armed struggle and launch tactical offensives against government troops. He added that the NPA will hold “meetings and small gatherings” in celebration of its 56th founding anniversary on Dec. 26.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has yet to respond to the matter.