Palace: Gov't likely to declare ceasefire with NPAs

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 16): Palace: Gov't likely to declare ceasefire with NPAs
 
As it has done every year, the government is likely to declare a unilateral Christmas ceasefire with communist rebels this year, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda expressed hopes the Communist Party of the Philippines, NPA and National Democratic Front would reciprocate the gesture.

"We hope the NPA-CPP-NDF would reciprocate, but as far as this government is concerned, we have traditionally declared a unilateral ceasefire every year," he said.

He added the Palace will announce the dates of the ceasefire once the matter is finalized.

But he also said the ceasefire does not stop government troops from taking defensive positions "when something happens."

"It does not stop us from taking defensive operations when something happens and we need to protect our people," he said.

 http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=597273