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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte declared a unilateral ceasefire with communist rebels this Christmas season.
Combat operations will be suspended from Dec. 24, 2017 to Jan. 2, 2018, according to Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque.
Duterte announced this on Tuesday night when he visited the wake of Police Officer 3 Wilfredo Gueta, who died in an antidrug operation in Pasig City, said Roque.
“This unilateral ceasefire would lessen the apprehension of the public this Christmas season,” Roque said in a statement. “We expect the CPP-NPA-NDFP would do a similar gesture of goodwill.”
“Christmas holds a special place in the hearts of our countrymen,” the spokesman said.
“In the observance of this occasion, we hope that all Filipinos would stand together as one nation and aspire for peace in our beloved Philippines,” he said.
Duterte ended the peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines in November due to continued attacks and extortion activities by its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).
The President has also officially tagged the NPA as a terrorist organization.
On Tuesday night, Duterte said the ceasefire would “not [be] addressed to the NPAs.”
“Rather, I would want to celebrate Christmas with the rest of humankind or Filipinos na walang stress,” said the President.
Yesterday the Philippine National Police (PNP) said they would immediately follow Duterte’s instructions to suspend operations against the rebels.
“The corresponding memo circular will be issued soonest so that all PNP units, offices and stations will be guided accordingly,” said spokesman Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos. (With Adrian Stewart Co/PN)
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