AFP declares ‘Peace Day’ truce with NPA

The military has declared a one-day unilateral ceasefire with communist rebels in observance of the International Peace Day on Wednesday.

The Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Eduardo Oban Jr. ordered the 24-hour suspension of offensive military operations (Somo) against the New People’s Army in support of the United Nations declaration of September 21 as International Peace Day “and in support of the primacy of the peace process,” a military spokesperson said.

The Somo will be from midnight of September 20 up to midnight of September 21, Colonel Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said.

Oban approved the unilateral Somo on September 18.

The military usually declares a Somo only during the Christmas holidays, which the NPA reciprocates.

“This is the first time we will have a Somo for International Peace Day,” Burgos told reporters Tuesday. Dona Z. Pazzibugan