CPP declares ceasefire for Christmas, Papal visit

MANILA, Philippines — The Communist Party of the Philippines on Wednesday declared a ceasefire in time for the holidays and the upcoming visit of Pope Francis.
The truce will be on the following dates:

12:01 a.m. of Dec. 24, 2014 to 11:59 p.m. of Dec. 26, 2014;

12:01 a.m. of Dec. 31, 2014 to 11:59 p.m. of Jan. 1, 2015; and

12:01 a.m. of Jan. 15, 2015 to 11:59 p.m. of Jan. 19, 2015.

During these dates, the New People’s Army are ordered “to desist from carrying out offensive operations against units and personnel” of the military, police and paramilitary groups of the government.

“This declaration is being issued in solidarity with the Filipino people in their observance of traditional holidays which coincide with the CPP anniversary celebrations on December 26,” the CPP said in a statement.

“This ceasefire declaration is also being issued in deference to the upcoming visit of Roman Catholic patriarch Pope Francis which the Filipino people look forward to as an opportunity for religious celebration and to raise outstanding issues such as military abuses and violations of human rights and children’s rights, Hacienda Luisita and widespread landlessness, poverty and exploitation of peasants and workers, bureaucratic corruption and government neglect of calamity survivors and the poor,” it added.

All units of NPA shall remain in active defense mode, however.

“All commanders, Red fighters and militia should remain ever vigilant and alert against the treacherous encroachment of operating military troops and police personnel of the GPH into the territories of the people’s democratic government,” it added.

The military declared a monthlong ceasefire against the communist rebels early this week also for the same reasons.

The unilateral ceasefire will start on the midnight of Dec. 18 and end on the midnight of Jan. 19.

The Philippine government is battling about 4,000 communist rebels mostly in Mindanao.

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