Jose Maria Sison. FILE PHOTO / INQUIRER
President Rodrigo Duterte’s proclamation of a “unilateral ceasefire” with the communist rebels was “probably a sham,” Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison said on Thursday.
“Kung totoong hindi sasalakay ang AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) at PNP (Philippine National Police), walang tatambangan ng NPA (New People’s Army),” Sison told INQUIRER.net in a Facebook message.
“Pero malamang na pakunwari ang SOMO (suspension of offensive military operations),” he added.
Sison said the NPA, the armed wing of the communist organization, would continue to be alert against the “deception, attacks and occupation” of their enemies.
“Alerto lang ang NPA laban sa panlilinlang, pagsalakay at okupasyon ng mga baryo ng kaaway,” he said. “Ang AFP at PNP naman ang mananalakay at mananakop.”
Last Wednesday, Duterte announced a unilateral ceasefire with the NPA from December 24, 2017 to January 2, 2018.
READ: Duterte declares ceasefire with Reds from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2
On Thursday, however, the Department of National Defense (DND) has issued the schedule of AFP’s unilateral ceasefire against the rebel group for this holiday season.
READ: AFP sets unilateral ceasefire with Reds
The DND said the truce would only be from 6:00 p.m. of December 23 to 6:00 p.m. of December 26; and 6:00 p.m. of December 30 to 6:00 p.m. of January 2, 2018. /kga