Communists following own ceasefire sked, says Joma Sison

MANILA, Philippines–With the government accusing the communists of violating the ceasefire in attacks that have left three soldiers dead, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair Jose Ma. Sison on Friday said the communists were bound only by their own unilateral ceasefire declaration.

Sison noted that the ceasefire dates of the CPP—including its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), and political arm, the National Democratic Front (NDF)—were different from those of the Armed Forces of the Philippines ceasefire.

“When the ceasefire dates of the NPA and AFP coincide, the NPA has not made any tactical offensive and has even gone to the extent of releasing its prisoners of war in contrast to the (government) hoarding 14 NDF consultants and 500 other political prisoners on multiplied charges of rebellion and common crimes,” Sison said.

Teresita Deles, the presidential adviser on the peace process, on Thursday accused the communist rebels of double talk, saying they wanted to return to the negotiating table but continued to launch attacks on government forces during the Christmas ceasefire.

In her New Year’s Day message, Deles said that because of the NPA attacks, she was looking at the resumption of the peace talks with caution.

The government declared a unilateral ceasefire from Dec. 19 to Jan. 19, the last day of the visit of Pope Francis to the country.

The communist rebels declared a staggered ceasefire: from 12:01 a.m. of Dec. 24, 2014 to 11:59 p.m. of Dec. 26, 2014; 12:01 a.m. of Dec. 31, 2014 to 11:59 p.m. of Jan. 1, 2015; and, in observance of the Pope’s visit, 12:01 a.m. of Jan. 15, 2015 to 11:59 p.m. of Jan. 19, 2015.

Earlier, Deles denounced the NPA’s torching of the heavy equipment used in a construction of a building in Paracale, Camarines Norte, and burning a civilian-owned vehicle in Agusan del Sur last Dec. 22; the Dec. 23 abduction of Compostela Valley jail warden Jose Mervin Gementiza Coquilla in Panabo City, Davao del Norte; and the Dec. 29 murder of 1st Lt. Ronald Bautista, Private First Class Albert Amor and military volunteer Renel Baluca in Sitio (settlement) Barigyan, Barangay (village) Candinuyan, Mabini, Compostela Valley.–Nikko Dizon