AFP shrugs off CPP’s ceasefire

(FILE )PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARMY’S 62ND INFANTRY BATTALION

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) shrugged off the Communist Party of the Philippines’ ceasefire, which began on Monday (Dec. 25).

The CPP ordered its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA) to observe a two-day unilateral ceasefire to mark the party anniversary on Dec. 26.

READ: CPP declares two-day ceasefire starting Christmas Day

“Hindi na namin pinag-uusapan ‘yan dahil naniniwala kami na mahina na sila, at ‘yung mga statement na binitawan nila ay walang saysay ‘yun,” AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said over radio DWPM of CPP’s ceasefire declaration.

(We don’t talk about that (ceasefire) because we believe that they are already weakened and their statements have no bearing.)

The CPP was established on December 26, 1968, while its armed wing, later created on March 29, 1969, wages the longest-running Maoist insurgency in the world.

Aguilar made the pronouncement as he downplayed the current strength of the NPA.

NPA is only left with more than 1,000 members with 13 “weakened” guerrilla fronts, according to Aguilar.

“Ilan na lang ang natitira sa grupo nila, mga mahigit isang libo, at mga guerilla fronts na dati ay halos 90, ngayon 13 na lang ang natitira, lahat naman ay weakened pa,” Aguilar said.

(There were only a few of them in their group, more than a thousand; their guerilla fronts, which used to be almost 90, are now only at 13, and they are weakened at that.)

Previously, Aguilar said the NPA had 1,800 members with 15 weakened guerrilla fronts.

READ: NPA membership down to 1,800 — AFP

A weakened guerrilla front means it can no longer implement its programs like recruitment and generating resources for the armed struggle as opposed to active guerrilla fronts, according to Aguilar.

There were no longer active guerrilla fronts in the country as of November, the AFP spokesperson previously said.

READ: ‘There are no more active guerilla fronts,’ declares AFP

Former Philippine National Police chief and now Senator Ronald Dela Rosa said that every NPA guerrilla front should have at least three platoons with 100 armed men.