Palace: Truce with NPA can speed up relief operations in typhoon-hit areas

From the Sun Star-Manila (Dec 20): Palace: Truce with NPA can speed up relief operations in typhoon-hit areas

MALACAÑANG said Sunday the unilateral ceasefire declared by the government with the communist New People's Army (NPA) will help accelerate the distribution of relief goods in typhoon-hit areas.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the military and the police have been coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to secure the relief operations.

"Sa aming pananaw, malaki ang maitutulong ng nailabas na deklarasyon ng Pangulo ng unilateral suspension of military operations noong Biyernes upang higit pang mapabilis ang paghahatid ng tulong sa ating mga kababayan mula sa mga lalawigan ng Albay, northern Samar, Oriental (Mindoro), Romblon, at Sorsogon na apektado ng typhoon ‘Nona’ at doon din sa dapat mabigyan ng tulong sa mga naapektuhan naman ng typhoon ‘Onyok'," he said over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Suspected NPA rebels ambushed a convoy of relief goods in Samar last Friday.

But despite what happened, Coloma said the government would not be deterred in extending assistance to those areas affected by the weather disturbances.

The suspension of military operations (Somo) will take place on December 23 to January 3, 2016.

The Communist Party of the Philippines, the umbrella organization of the NPA-National Democratic Front, also declared similar 12-day holiday truce with the government troops.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2015/12/20/palace-truce-npa-can-speed-relief-operations-typhoon-hit-areas-447989