Año calls Reds' holiday truce 'meaningless, propaganda only'

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 10): Año calls Reds' holiday truce 'meaningless, propaganda only'

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said the temporary ceasefire declaration of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF) during the holiday season is "meaningless" and is simply for propaganda purposes.

“Ito po ay isang malaking kalokohan. Huwag na nilang gamiting dahilan ang Kapaskuhan sa pagkukunwari nila na magtitigil-putukan sila sa panahong iyon gayong alam naman nating magpapalakas lang sila ng puwersa (This is a big fraud. They should not use Christmas season for the supposed ceasefire because we very well know that they use this opportunity to muster their forces,” Año said in a news release Monday.

He said similar to the defense department, the DILG is also not recommending a holiday truce because the CPP-NPA-NDF will only exploit the truce to consolidate its forces to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

“Taun-taon na lang ay nagdedeklara sila ng tigil-putukan at pinagbibigyan sila ng pamahalaan alang-alang sa diwa ng Kapaskuhan. Sa puntong ito, huwag na nating sakyan ang mga palabas ng grupong ito (Every year they declare a ceasefire and the government agreed in the spirit of Christmas. At this point, let us not be swayed by these groups),” said Año, a former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff.

"We will not allow ourselves to fall into the same trap again. We have seen time and again the insincerity of the Communists and their front organizations," he said.

The CPP central committee announced last Friday a temporary ceasefire to take effect 12:01 a.m. of December 24 to 11:59 p.m. of December 26, and at 12:01 a.m. of December 31 to 11:59 of Jan. 1, 2019.

Año said nothing will come out of a truce because the CPP-NPA-NDF has really no intention to stop fighting with government forces during a ceasefire.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1056185