MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde sees no sincerity from the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) every time it declares temporary ceasefire with government troops.
Just recently, the CPP has declared a temporary unilateral ceasefire for the Christmas season and its 50th year anniversary. The ceasefire will begin at midnight on December 24 and will end at midnight of the party’s anniversary on December 26.
READ: CPP declares ceasefire for Christmas, 50th anniversary
“Nakita naman natin na wala kasi silang sinseridad. Hindi natin nakikita ‘yung kanilang sinseridad kapag nagde-declare ng SOMO (Suspension of Offensive Military Operations) or nagde-declare ng ceasefire both from their end at tsaka ng gobyerno,” Albayalde told reporters on Monday.
(We don’t see their sincerity whenever a SOMO or ceasefire is declared both from their end and from the government.)
Albayalde said communist rebels even take advantage of the supposed ceasefire to conduct extortion activities or amass firearms.
“So nakikita natin na (We can see that) they are just taking advantage of the SOMO,” he said.
Albayalde said the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will continue their internal security and law enforcement operations even as the CPP declared a unilateral ceasefire.
READ: DND, AFP not eager about Christmas truce with Reds
He said he also issued a directive for the regional police to intensify their operations.
According to Albayalde, the government is also conducting a holistic approach to end insurgency in the country.
He said 12 communist rebels from Mindanao who surrendered to the government and handed out 21 high-powered firearms last November became beneficiaries of housing and livelihood programs of the government. /ee
RELATED STORIES
PNP on heightened alert amid order for NPA to escalate attacks
CPP orders NPA to escalate attacks vs gov’t forces nationwide
CPP-NPA faking strong image through attacks — Albayalde