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[av_heading heading=’CPP stays on alert amid gov’t unilateral ceasefire ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) will stay on alert despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of a unilateral ceasefire with rebels during the Christmas season.
CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison said the suspension of combat operations from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2 could be just a “sham.”
“We are hoping that the SOMO (suspension of military operations) is not a sham,” Sison said in a statement.
“Regardless of the unilateral ceasefire, we will not keep our guard down in case they won’t follow the SOMO,” he said.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said he felt sorry for Sison if the latter doubts Duterte’s declaration.
“How do you comment [on] someone who says that wanting peace during Christmas time is a sham?” Roque told reporters yesterday.
“We leave it to the people to conclude how we should react to that statement by Joma Sison,” said Roque.
He added: “The President does not have to explain. In fact, it is Sison who is calling it a sham. We should be thankful that the President is pushing through with the unilateral ceasefire [at all].”
On Wednesday Duterte announced the unilateral ceasefire with the CPP – particularly its armed wing, the New People’s Army – “to lessen the apprehension of the public this Christmas season.”
But Duterte clarified that the ceasefire was “not addressed to the NPAs.”
“Rather, I would want to celebrate Christmas with the rest of humankind or Filipinos, na walang stress,” the President said./PN
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