Communist rebels dismiss gov’t holiday truce as sham

MANILA, Philippines—The Communist Party of the Philippines on Friday dismissed as a “sham” President Benigno Aquino’s declaration of a holiday ceasefire, saying the “war of suppression” continues.

The CPP condemned the alleged duplicity of the Aquino administration and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for declaring a unilateral truce while ground troops continue “committing abuses and violating human rights as they conduct their so-called civil-military and intelligence-gathering operations within civilian communities.”

Aquino approved a holiday ceasefire with communist rebels beginning Friday in a traditional goodwill gesture that follows a recent wave of guerrilla attacks. Government troops and police have been ordered to refrain from offensive operations and return fire only in self-defense from Friday to January 2, officials said.

Traditionally, the rebels would reciprocate with their own ceasefire.

But the CCP said the military continued to set up camps and detachments within schools and civilian communities.

“Such continuing operations of the AFP under Oplan Bayanihan reduces its unilateral ceasefire declaration into empty phrasemongering,” said the CPP. “The people are provided no respite from the abuses and violations of human rights.”

The Oplan Bayanihan is the military’s campaign against armed threats.

On Thursday, a vanload of rebels, clad in police camouflage, attacked a jail in remote Lianga town in southern Surigao del Sur province, seizing a rifle, shotgun, three pistols, combat boots and cellphones. Nobody was injured.

Army troops clashed apparently with a separate group of rebels also in Lianga an hour before the jail attack but nobody was injured in the fighting, the military said.

Military spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Burgos said troops would continue self-defense work. The ceasefire “shall not include military actions aimed to secure and protect the populace, vital installations, major investment infrastructures and communities against violent attacks,” he said.

The rebels have stepped up attacks on troops, foreign-owned agricultural plantations and foreign mining companies, accusing them of exploiting resources and local workers. The government accuses the rebels of extorting money from businesses.

In October, more than 200 guerrillas stormed three nickel mining complexes in Claver town in Surigao del Norte province. The rebels disarmed guards, briefly held employees and torched trucks, heavy equipment and company offices in some of their largest attacks in recent years.

Marathon peace talks brokered by Norway have stalled over rebel demands for the release of jailed guerrillas. With The Associated Press