The Communist Party of the Philippines has ordered all its commands and units of the New People’s Army (NPA) and the people’s militias a nationwide ceasefire order that will take effect from December 23, 2019 to January 7, 2020.
The order comes after the recommendation of the Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
On Sunday, the government’s peace panel and the NDFP have agreed to recommend a nationwide ceasefire over the holidays following President Rodrigo Duterte’s hint at a possible resumption of peace negotiations.
“The ceasefires are intended to generate a positive environment conducive to the holding of informal talks preparatory to the formal meeting to resume the peace negotiations,” both camps said in a statement.
“The purpose of the reciprocal and unilateral ceasefires is to generate a positive atmosphere conducive to the holding of informal talks preparatory to the formal meeting to resume the peace negotiations. These shall be measures of goodwill and confidence building during the traditional celebrations of Christmas and New Year holiday,” the Communist Party said in a statement.
During the ceasefire period, all NPA units and people’s militias shall cease and desist from carrying out offensive military operations against the armed units and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other paramilitary and armed groups attached to the GRP.
