Reds to mark 52nd anniversary with ‘simple but joyous’ activities

MANILA, Philippines — Revolutionary forces will hold “simple but joyous” activities to commemorate the Communist Party of the Philippines’ (CPP) 52nd anniversary on Dec 26.

“These activities are going to be held clandestinely to evade suppression by the fascist enemy’s military and police forces,” the CPP said in a statement Friday, Christmas Day.

The CPP said of the activities are meant to “look back in the past year, take stock of the current situation, pay tribute to the heroes and martyrs of the Philippine revolution, and affirm the commitment and determination to serve the people and fight to end the reign of terror and evil of the tyrannical US-Duterte regime.”

Some of these meetings and gatherings double as education seminars to discuss the Party’s views about the current international and national situation, the communist group added.

The New People’s Army, the armed wing of the CPP, said it was observing a ceasefire for the holidays after President Rodrigo Duterte declared there wouldn’t be any more ceasefire with communist guerrillas during his term.

This prompts state forces to heighten preparedness for attacks by communist guerrillas through the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Meanwhile, the AFP said the claims of the CPP are “all bluff.”

It claimed that the CPP is in disarray following subsequent political and tactical setbacks recently.

“The CPP-NPA and their front organizations have nothing to celebrate. They failed on the ground, got exposed in Congress, and were unmasked abroad for their fake advocacies,” AFP chief General Gilbert Gapay said.