NPA declares truce to help Tisoy survivors
LEGAZPI CITY — The New People’s Army (NPA) in Bicol declared Friday a week-long ceasefire to help the survivors of Typhoon Tisoy (international name: Kammuri) that hit the region Monday and Tuesday.
Raymundo Buenfuerza, NPA’s Romulo Jallores Command spokesperson, said the truce that started midnight December 6 and would end at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 12 would “surely be met by an offensive by the military,” but that their forces are ready to defend themselves.
Buenfuerza also called on their members who could help through donations to give to typhoon victims.
“Upang bigyan-daan ang pagpapaabot ng iba’t-ibang porma ng ayuda sa mga bayan sa mga ilang prubinsya sa Bikol, idinideklara ng Romulo Jallores Command Bagong Hukbong Bayan-Bikol ang isang linggong unilateral na tigil-putukan sa buong rehiyon,” he said in a statement.
(In order to give way for various forms of the relief effort to reach towns in several provinces of Bicol, the Romulo Jallores Command Bagong Hukbong Bayan-Bikol is declaring a weeklong unilateral ceasefire in the entire region.)
“Magsagawa ang lahat ng larangang gerilya, rebolusyonaryong organisasyong masa at mga organo ng mga kapangyarihang pampulitika ng kampanya para sa mga naaangkop na serbisyong panlipunan para sa mga binayo ng bagyong Tisoy,” he added.
(Guerillas, mass revolutionary organizations, and political groups are instructed to do appropriate public services campaign to help those affected by Tisoy.)
They also called on government officials to quickly extend help to people in the region, especially those in far-flung areas.
According to local government units in Bicol, Typhoon Tisoy’s estimated damage in Sorsogon and Albay has reached P2.6 billion and P2.5 billion, respectively. Meanwhile, officials said damage to schools in the whole region is already at P940 million.
READ: ‘Tisoy’ leaves P2.6-B damage in Sorsogon
READ: ‘Tisoy’ destroys P2.5B crops, infrastructure in Albay
