Mindanao communists declare early ceasefire

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines—Communist rebels in northern Mindanao have silenced their guns earlier and for a slightly longer period than mandated by the Communist Party of the Philippines in deference to the victims of Tropical Storm Sendong.

The rebel directive for  ‘regional ceasefire’ from December 21 to January 3, 2012, was issued by the Communist Party of the Philippines’ North-Central Mindanao Regional Committee on December 19.

In a statement, regional CPP spokesperson Norsen Mangubat said the regional ceasefire declaration was  on top of the one involving all communist forces throughout the country. The CPP central leadership had earlier declared two unilateral ceasefires, one for December 24-26 and the other from December 31 to January 2.

The CPP also encouraged New People’s Army units “in the most affected areas (to) temporarily cease offensive military operations and help in mobilizing the people to carry out rescue and rehabilitation efforts to help the victims recover from the disaster.”

Mangubat said that the regional ceasefire covers all fronts and units of the New People’s Army in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, and the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte.

“In particular, the NPA is to suspend offensive actions against military detachments, camps and outposts, including police stations and outposts,” Mangubat added. However, the NPA “will remain vigilant against enemy attacks,” he added.

Mangubat clarified, however,  that “all police actions launched by the NPA against criminals, including murderers, rapists, drug dealers, thieves and others shall not be included in the scope of the suspension.”

The rebel spokesperson said they will be raising resources for relief and rehabilitation efforts of the affected families out of “all material and financial donations for the Christmas season and the Party’s 43rd anniversary celebration (on December 26)” that the CPP’s regional branch will be receiving.

“All expected donations yet to be received by the party shall be used for the same purpose,” Mangubat said.

In a separate statement, Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front  in Mindanao, said the rebel leadership has directed its local and regional commanders “to observe frugality and simplicity” in holding the CPP anniversary on December 26 in sympathy with the survivors and victims of Sendong.

Amid the recent disaster, Madlos said, the communist movement maintains its policy of “punish(ing) all large-scale companies that plunder the country’s natural resources, destroy the environment, displace peasants and Lumads, and exploit workers.”

“We are requiring all mining, logging, and agri-business companies that have profited in the past decades and in the present from their business operations to make substantial contributions to defray the cost for effective retrieval, relief and sustainable rehabilitation,” he said.

Madlos, who is considered the new poster boy of the communist movement, offered its guerrilla zones “for people from the urban poor populace who are interested to return to farming.”

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front  also extended its sympathies to Sendong’s victims.

“In the spirit of humanity and as fellow residents of Mindanao, the MILF sincerely offer sympathy and condolence to those who suffer from this calamity,” said a statement from Muhammad Ameen, chairperson of the MILF secretariat, in behalf of the central leadership.