In the hands of Abu Sayyaf

From The Star Online (Dec 9): In the hands of Abu Sayyaf

KOTA KINABALU: The three missing crew of a Sandakan-based fishing trawler found listing with its engines running are believed to be in the Abu Sayyaf stronghold of Jolo in the Philippines.

Regional intelligence sources said a group of seven gunmen with three hostages landed on the Pata Pata islet next to Jolo on Friday night. They were taken to Panamao village.

The kidnap victims – reportedly Indonesians working for a Sandakan fishing company – were taken at gunpoint from their trawler in the Pegasus reef area in eastern Sabah waters that borders the southern Philippines province of Tawi Tawi. They were abducted on Wednesday.

One of the victims apparently made contact with a family member late Thursday night.

It was learnt that the victim told the family member that they had been abducted by gunmen and were on an island in the Philippines.

The sources also disclosed that the family member was urged to seek the assistance of the Indonesian consulate. There was no demand for ransom.

 

Yesterday, Sabah police commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah dismissed reports that a call had been made to the wife of one of the victims.

Speaking to reporters here, Comm Mammah said the wife told police there was no such call telling her that her husband and the other crew members had been kidnapped.

“As of now, we are unable to verify if the crew were kidnapped,” he said, adding that the operation to locate the missing men was ongoing.

Regional intelligence sources said the gunmen were led by Al Mujir Yadah, who is a member of the notorious Abu Sayyaf sub-commander, Hatib Hajan Sawadjan.
Hatib has teamed up with another sub-commander, Indang Susukan, to search for and kidnap targets in Sabah waters.

 

The sources said Al Mujir had been involved in local kidnappings, including of policemen in Jolo, but was despatched to the Tawi Tawi Islands to target victims of higher value.

The same group had also been involved in the shooting of a tugboat crew member during a botched kidnap attempt in the Pegasus Reef area in Tambisan in Lahad Datu at about 7.30pm on Wednesday, the same day the Indonesians were taken.

The Indonesians are believed to have been kidnapped while the gang was returning to the Philippines.

On Wednesday, the owner of the fishing company lodged a police report that he had lost contact with his crew, aged between 19 and 40.

 

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/12/09/in-the-hands-of-abu-sayyaf-missing-crew-of-listing-trawler-believed-to-be-hostages-in-jolo/

Makabayan Bloc: Murder charges vs. NDF peace consultant, wife ‘utterly absurd’

From GMA News (Dec 9): Makabayan Bloc: Murder charges vs. NDF peace consultant, wife ‘utterly absurd’

The progressive Makabayan Bloc on Sunday condemned the arrest of National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultant Rey Casambre and his wife on Friday over murder and attempted murder charges they are facing in Davao Oriental.

In a statement, the lawmakers said the warrant of arrest for the Casambre couple and six others is "highly preposterous" as at least four of them live and work in Manila.
At the same time, most of the accused are also senior citizens already and are suffering from ailments, the group said.

It is "utterly absurd," then, the Casambre and his co-accused would commit murder and attempted murder in a remote barangay in Davao Oriental, they added.

Casambre and his wife Patricia were arrested in Molino, Cavite on Friday on a verified warrant of arrest for murder and two counts of attempted murder dated November 23, 2018, issued by Presiding Judge Emilio Dayanghirang III of RTC 11th Judicial Region, Branch 32, Lupon, Davao Oriental.

Six others were ordered arrested alongside them: Antonio Liongson, Antonio Tujan, Reynaldo Desiongco Oliveros, Maria Cecilia Anaud, Dennis Rodenas and Marivic Huinda, who are supposed to be found in Barangay Maragatas in Lupon, Davao Oriental.

While authorities claimed that Casambre's arrest has nothing to do with him being an NDF consultant, the progressive lawmakers believe otherwise.

"Once again this style of filing trumped-up charges has reared its ugly head and is being used against peace advocates and activists," they said.

"In the Casambre couple's arrest police also used the same modus that they used in illegally arresting other peace consultants like Vic Ladlad, Rafael Baylosis and Adel Silva. They planted guns and explosives and filed trumped up charges," they added.

The lawmakers said they find it "tragic" and "ironic" that those who push for the resumption of the peace talks get jailed while members of the military are continuously being given positions in the government, such us outgoing Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Carlito Galvez Jr. who would lead the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

"The Duterte administration is ill-advised if it thinks that the armed conflict can be solved with this type of modus and a purely military solution without addressing the roots of the armed conflict," they said.

"It is only by addressing the problems besetting Philippine society today like landlessness, low wages, foreign control of the economy and corruption can genuine and lasting peace be achieved, harassing and killing peace advocates will only make it worse," they added.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/677575/makabayan-bloc-murder-charges-vs-ndf-peace-consultant-wife-lsquo-utterly-absurd-rsquo/story/

PAF buying US Black Hawks, not Russian helicopters

From the Philippine Star (Dec 9): PAF buying US Black Hawks, not Russian helicopters

 

 

“I think finally the Air Force technical working group has come up with a recommendation that the Black Hawk is the best option that they will buy,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters after attending a forum in Makati City last Friday. Alik Keplicz/AP

The Philippine Air Force has selected the US-made Black Hawks to replace the canceled combat utility helicopter deal with Canada, according to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

Lorenzana said the Air Force’s technical working group has recommended the Sikorsky Black Hawk for its combat utility helicopter acquisition project, while it selected the T129 ATAK of the Turkish Aerospace Industries for its attack helicopter project.

 

“I think finally the Air Force technical working group has come up with a recommendation that the Black Hawk is the best option that they will buy,” Lorenzana told reporters after attending a forum in Makati City last Friday.

Lorenzana said the Air Force opted not to go for Russia’s less expensive Mi-171s, saying “it is very difficult to pay for them.”

He explained the US-imposed sanctions on Russian military exports would make it harder to buy equipment from them.

 

Lorenzana said the Air Force is expected to sign the acquisition deal of 16 helicopters early next year.

Asked if the helicopters include armaments, Lorenzana explained the Black Hawk is actually not an attack helicopter but a combat utility and transport aircraft.

 

“So we could put a machine gun on both sides, but it’s not really for attack, it’s for bringing air supply troops,” he said.

President Duterte in February ordered the military to cancel a $233-million agreement to purchase 16 Bell 412 helicopters from Canada, after it expressed concerns they could be used to fight rebels.

The government also considered the Italian Agusta Westland AW139 and the Korea Aerospace Industries’ Surion utility helicopter.

“We have limited money for that. We have only $240 million worth and the original pricing of this aircraft for the (Bell 412) we can get 16,” Lorenzana said.

“Initially, the Surion we can get 10 because of the money and also the Black Hawk,” he said.

He said the manufacturers of the Black Hawk changed its offer so that the Philippines could get 16 units.

Meanwhile, Lorenzana said the military will also be purchasing new attack helicopters from the Turkish Aerospace Industries.

“Its name is also ATAK, it’s an attack helicopter... I think we can only get less than 10, maybe eight,” he said.

 

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and its major service commands have been upgrading its assets under its modernization program by acquiring new and stronger land, air and sea assets.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/12/09/1875458/paf-buying-us-black-hawks-not-russian-helicopters

25 Lumads complete livelihood skills training

From the Sun Star-Cagayan del Oro (Dec 9): 25 Lumads complete livelihood skills training

INDIGENOUS peoples (IP) or Lumad beneficiaries of a livelihood training initiated by the military, town officials of Claveria, Misamis Oriental, government agencies and non-government organization have received tool kits after finishing the course.

The 58th Infantry Battalion, Claveria officials, Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (Tesda) and Balay Mindanaw turned over the tool kits to some 25 IPs beneficiaries of Barangay Minalwang who have finished the baking training. The tool kits were distributed during the closing ceremony Friday, December 7.

Among the participants of the training were wives of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) stationed in the said village.

The livelihood training facilitated by the Balay Mindanaw was part of the community support program of the government.

Aside from the tool kits, the participants were also given allowance for the duration of the training and National Certificate II for their skills.

The military said the skills they learned and acquired through the training will open a new window for several job opportunities that will help them uplift their economic living within a poverty stricken community.

Tesda and the local government of Claveria have helped deliver the basic services to the people in the far-flung barangay.

The military added the beneficiaries now have the means to start their own small-scale business for extra income and through the training the barangay will become a resilient community that will resist the influence of the New People’s Army (NPA) seeking to discredit the government.

"I am happy that the IP community of Barangay Minalwang seeks to develop their lives by taking this livelihood training. They want to show that NPA were just full of empty promises and lies to organize their community but it is our own government that will really help the community and bring them peace and development which they have long seek to enjoy," 58IB commander Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Derilo said.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1777931/Cagayan-De-Oro/Local-News/25-Lumads-complete-livelihood-skills-training?rss=1

Soldiers foil rebels’ pre-anniversary plan

From the Daily Guardian (Dec 12): Soldiers foil rebels’ pre-anniversary plan

WHATEVER plan the New People’s Army (NPA) hatched in the central part of Iloilo province went kaput following an encounter early morning of Dec. 9, 2018 in Janiuay, Iloilo.

Reports from the military indicated that troops from the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion encountered more than 20 suspected NPA members of the Central Front Committee’s SPP Baloy around 6 a.m. Sunday at Barangay Canauilihan.

A river separates Canauilihan from the nearby village of Trangka, Maasin.

The encounter site is a kilometer away from Antique province.

Lieutenant Colonel Sisenando Magbalot Jr., 61st IB commander, said the rebels initially planned to make the place their temporary harboring area while they are preparing for the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)’s 50th founding anniversary on Dec 26.

Magbalot said the move was part of their operation.

The site, which is around 20 kilometers from the town proper, can be reached on foot for the most part of the travel.

“It took 4 days for our troops to reach the area,” he said.

As of late Sunday afternoon, soldiers are still scouting the area and already recovered two M16 Armalite rifles, four improvised explosive device (IEDs), seven backpacks with personal belongings, an NPA flag, a laptop, and subversive documents with high intelligence value.

Magbalot said they are still gathering information where the supposed IEDs will be used.

“But we believe they have planned harassment activities for the CPP’s anniversary on Dec. 26,” he said.

The CPP has declared a temporary unilateral ceasefire for the Holidays and for their 50th year anniversary.

The CPP announced that its armed wing, the NPA, and people’s militias were ordered to cease and desist from undertaking offensive military operations starting 12:01 a.m. of December 24 until 11:59 p.m. of December 26, 2018, and from 12:01 a.m. of December 31 until 11:59 p.m. of January 1, 2019.

But Armed Forces of the Philippines earlier said it is not likely to reciprocate CPP’s declaration.

https://thedailyguardian.net/local-news/soldiers-foil-rebels-pre-anniversary-plan/

Bulatlat: The real target of military operations in Mindanao

From the pro-Communist Party of the Philippines (PP)/National Democratic Front (NDF)/New People's Army (NPA) online propaganda publication Bulatlat (Dec 10): The real target of military operations in Mindanao

On Monday, Dec. 3, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. publicly tagged Bayan Muna former representative Satur Ocampo and ACT Teachers’ Partylist Rep. France Castro an “active members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).”

In a news report, Galvez claimed that Ocampo and Castro, who were recently released from detention in Talaingod, Davao del Sur, are recruiting NPA members in Lumad schools, which the military alleged as breeding grounds for the NPA.

If we will look back, under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, this was the same accusation used against the Lumad schools and those in solidarity with the Lumad’s struggle for ancestral land and right to self-determination. It is also under Aquino that the attacks against Lumad schools intensified due to the heavy deployment of soldiers in Mindanao.

Read: ‘Military attacks on schools unabated’ – SOS Network

But why the attacks on Lumad schools?

In these Lumad communities lie the rich natural resources of Mindanao. One is the Pantaron Mountain Range, the last remaining forest in Mindanao, which is home to the Ata-Manobos. According to Kalikasan Philippine Network for the Environment (KPNE) who visited the community in 2014, this forest serves as the indigenous people’s livelihood and natural pharmacy. Hardwood species are also found this forest including lamotan, red lawaan, iron wood, and kamagong, among others. In this area also lies the 1.8 million hectares of virgin forest that supply water to major rivers of Mindanao.

Datu Guibang Apoga, the chieftain of the Ata-Manobo tribe in Talaingod, has protected their ancestral land from the encroachment of a logging company. They even launched pangayao (tribal war) to defend their ancestral land.

In 1994, they formed the Salugpongan Ta’Tanu Igkanugon (Unity in Defense of Ancestral Land) that stood up against the Alcantara and Sons’ (Alsons), a manufacturer of plywood and other wood products in the Philippines. In 2003, the Salugpongan sought the assistance of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines and indigenous peoples’ advocates to set up a school that is now called as the Salugpongan Ta’Tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center Inc. (STTICLCI). It was accredited by the Department of Education (DepEd) as an alternative school since 2007.

The same story goes for the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (Alcadev) in Surigao del Sur, which was established in 2004. Borne out of the Lumad’s unity to defend their land and the desire for better life conditions, their schools were built with the help of the Tribal Filipino Program in Surigao del Sur (Trifpss).

Read: Alcadev: Lumad school under the gun

Surigao del Sur was also highly militarized since it is where the Andap Valley Complex, a land corridor highly mineralized with coal, gold and copper, is located. At least eight communities are situated in the Andap Valley Complex including Lianga where the massacre of Alcadev administrator Emerito Samarca and two other leaders took place.

The Lumad in Surigao del Sur has consistently fought against the encroachment of their ancestral land. In the 1980s, they were able to kick the Benguet Mining Corporation out of their communities. This has led to the massive militarization of their communities resulting in human rights violations perpetrated by none other than the AFP.

Since 2008, the AFP has formed the Investment Defense Force (IDF) to “give a protective shield to power assets, other infrastructures and mineral development projects.” These IDF continue to sow terror to the Lumad communities up to the present administration.

According to Caraga Watch, five companies “have been raring to operate” in Andap Valley since 2015. These are Benguet Corp. of the Romualdez family, Abacus Coal Exploration and Development Corp., Chinese-owned Great Wall Mining and Power Corp., ASK Mining and Exploration Corp. and CoalB lack Mining Corp. Their entry to the Lumad communities was prevented by their refusal to sign the Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) agreement.

The government has identified 12 mineral districts in Mindanao for its international roadshow for investors. These included areas in Mindanao such as the North Central Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, Southern Mindanao, and Samar-Eastern Mindanao. The said areas are rich in minerals such as gold, copper, iron, chromium, chromite, nickel, cobalt, platinum and manganese.

This explains why the military and paramilitary forces forcibly close Lumad schools — to pave the way the entry of the mining, logging and plantation companies.

But the Lumad will persist. As Datu Dulphing Ogan, spokesperson of Kalumaran said, the Lumad has never stopped fighting for their ancestral lands since Spaniards and American colonizers. And they will continue to do so just to preserve their home and their culture. 

http://bulatlat.com/main/2018/12/09/the-real-target-of-military-operations-in-mindanao/

Palace to Joma Sison: Stop long-distance propaganda war

From the Philippine Star (Dec 10): Palace to Joma Sison: Stop long-distance propaganda war

Malacañang yesterday lashed at communist leader Jose Maria Sison for criticizing President Duterte’s handling of the West Philippine Sea row and dared him to return to the Philippines to see how the government is implementing its independent foreign policy.

 

Sison claimed on Saturday that former solicitor general Florin Hilbay was right that the Duterte administration has “treasonously and stupidly made a waiver of Philippine sovereign rights” by being silent on the issue.

The rebel leader also lambasted the administration for supposedly putting Philippine sovereign rights at par with China’s claims in the memorandum of understanding on the joint exploration and development of oil and gas resources in the West Philippine Sea.

Sison said Duterte had made a “false and stupid calculation” that the Philippine economy would be buoyed by “burdensome and exploitative Chinese loans.” He warned that China wants an “explicit and categorical surrender of Philippine sovereign rights.”

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo described Sison’s attacks as “lamentable.”

“We find it lamentable and pathetic that Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairperson Jose Maria Sison resorted to ad hominem (personal) attacks in criticizing the President’s policy on the West Philippine Sea,” Panelo said in a statement.

“We urge Mr. Sison to stop his propaganda war by long distance and to return to the Philippines and see for himself the independent foreign policy course that the President has charted, including a cautious, pragmatic and diplomatic stance on how to deal with the favorable arbitral ruling,” he added.

Panelo said the basis of Sison’s tirades was a two-year-old article by international political risk analyst Anders Corr, who has worked for several projects with the US military. He said Sison’s reliance on a two-year-old article proved that the rebel leader is “out-of-touch with the realities in the Philippines as a result of more than three decades of high living in Europe.”

“The President has a wealth of information at his disposal, which is not readily available to ordinary citizens or foreigners hence he is in the best position to decide on international matters that affect the welfare of the nation,” Panelo said.

He added that Duterte has steered clear of a “potential warfare with China” and maintained constructive dialogues through a bilateral consultation mechanism, which led to the signing of 29 agreements.

For Panelo, Sison should instead abandon his violent armed struggle as this has already resulted in meaningless deaths and alienated his followers.

“In the twilight of his years, Mr. Sison must accept the reality that his dream of wrestling political power from the duly constituted authorities has come to an end,” he said. “Truly, the revolution that he has commenced half a century ago has devoured its own children.”

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday urged communist rebels to go down from their camps and be with their relatives this yuletide season.

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr. said the New People’s Army rebels can go down from the mountains provided that they are unarmed.

This, he added, would give the rebels the opportunity to see the reforms the government has undertaken under President Duterte.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/12/10/1875711/palace-joma-sison-stop-long-distance-propaganda-war

Palace laments Sison’s attacks vs. Duterte policy on WPS

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 9): Palace laments Sison’s attacks vs. Duterte policy on WPS

Malacañang on Sunday lamented Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairperson Jose Ma. Sison’s ‘ad hominem’ attacks against the policy of President Rodrigo Duterte on the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“We find it lamentable and pathetic that CPP founding chairperson Jose Ma. Sison resorted to ad hominem attacks in criticizing the President’s policy on the WPS,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

“Ironically, the basis of Mr. Sison’s attacks is a two-year old article by an international political risk analyst who has worked for several projects with an institution that Mr. Sison and his cabal strongly denounce, the United States military,” he added.

Panelo said Sison referred to Anders Corr’s article, “China May Owe the Philippines USD177 Billion in South China Sea Rent and Damages,” which was published on July 15, 2016.

He said the story came out two weeks into the Duterte presidency “which clearly proves that he is out-of-touch of the realities in the Philippines as a result of more than three decades of high living in Europe”.

“We urge Mr. Sison to stop his propaganda war by long distance and to return to the Philippines and see for himself the independent foreign policy course that the President has charted, including a cautious, pragmatic, and diplomatic stance on how to deal with the favorable arbitral ruling,” Panelo said.

He explained that the President has a wealth of information at his disposal, which is not readily available to ordinary citizens or foreigners “hence he is in the best position to decide on international matters that affect the welfare of the nation”.

Panelo, also Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, referred to Duterte’s decision to pursue and maintain friendly and constructive dialogues with China through a bilateral consultation mechanism (BCM) “paving way for 29 agreements that would benefit our nation and our people”.

He said Sison must accept the reality that the CPP founding leader’s dream of wresting political power from the duly-constituted authorities has come to an end.

“It behooves him to put his ideals to a new tact outside of a bloody course that only resulted in meaningless deaths and destruction to properties that have alienated him and his followers from the very people they sought to liberate from what they perceive to be the inequities in our society,” Panelo said.

“Truly, the revolution that he has commenced half a century ago has devoured its own children,” he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1056171

Remains of soldier killed in Sulu clash arrive in Isabela

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 9): Remains of soldier killed in Sulu clash arrive in Isabela

The flag-draped coffin of an Army corporal who was killed in a gunbattle in Patikul, Sulu arrived via C-130 plane on Sunday morning at the Tactical Operations Group in San Fermin village here.

Maj. Jefferson Somera, Army’s 5th Infantry Division spokesperson, identified the slain soldier as Cpl. Herald Thomas Marayag.

“Corporal Marayag is a hero as he helped served the country by risking his life in our pursuit for peace,” Somera told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in an interview.

The slain soldier’s relatives, who are grieving on his death, had asked for swift justice.

Marayag, a native of San Agustin town in Isabela, together with his team, reinforced the Alpha Company of the 21st Infantry Battalion in a security patrol in Barangay Bungkaong, Patikul, Sulu when they chanced upon at least 20 fully armed Abu Sayaf rebels led by Almujer Yada on Friday.

Marayag was hit on his head and died instantly when both sides engaged in an hour-long gunfight.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1056156

CDO cops probe slain suspect's link to Maute, illegal drugs

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 9): CDO cops probe slain suspect's link to Maute, illegal drugs

The Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) is looking into the possible links of a slain shootout suspect here to Maute militants and to the illegal drugs trade.

Supt. Nelson Aganon, Cocpo director, on Friday said they will work on gathered intelligence reports on the dead suspect, Abdulrahim Adilao, as he was originally a resident in Butig town, Lanao del Sur -- the hometown of the Maute brothers.

Adilao is responsible for the death of Highway Patrol Group’s SPO1 Sergs de Constantine Maceren.

On December 6, Maceren and two other colleagues with the Regional Highway Patrol Unit -- SPO2 Lyndie Baltazar and PO1 Joel Laurente -- flagged down a white Hyundai Accent in Barangay Carmen over its suspicious license plate (ULI-448).

However, when Maceren and Baltazar approached the vehicle near a gasoline station, Adilao fired at them using an M4 rifle equipped with a suppressor.

The ensuing shootout killed Maceren and Adilao, and wounded Baltazar.

However, Adilao was also killed in said shooting incident.

Adilao, 42, was with his partner, Joan Gomez, 30, and two other unidentified men.

According to reports, Adilao owns multiple gun shops around the country, including Marawi City.

The vehicle he used during the shootout was said to have an "improvised" plate number.

Aganon said Gomez, who is now under police custody, is still under thorough interrogation.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1056160

No holiday break for military operations

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 9): No holiday break for military operations

The military vowed to pursue operations and community outreach programs despite the declaration of a unilateral ceasefire by the central committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Incoming Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., said he asked military personnel to remain active and on defense mode.

"We foresee a very peaceful Christmas and more united. We see there is a good relationship with the community and government with our security sector," he said in an interview on Sunday.

"This will be very beneficial to us and nagapapasalamat kami sa (and we thanked) the all-out support of the President (Rodrigo Duterte) and local chief executives, also in other areas," he added.

The military, Madrigal said, is not also keen on recommending a suspension of military operations (SOMO) to reciprocate the CPP's five-day holiday ceasefire.

In a separate phone interview, Lt. Gen. Macairog S. Alberto, Commanding General of the Philippine Army (CGPA), said the military will "continue with its current mission to protect the people, the state and our territory."

Brig. Gen. Ernesto Torres, commander of the 1003rd Brigade, said the military will have to exercise its mandate of protecting the people, adding that they will continue to implement community outreach programs even on Christmas holidays.

Torres said the communist rebels' offer of a holiday truce will not also stop the security forces to arrest any members of the NPA.

During ceasefire period, the central committee said that all units of the NPA and people’s militia shall cease and desist from carrying out offensive military campaigns and operations against the government troops.

Torres, however, said the NPA ceasefire is a welcome development if only to give the people especially those in the hinterlands a respite from armed confrontation.

“Pero ano ba itong unilateral ceasefire (But what is this unilateral ceasefire)? Is this for their 50th celebration? They are the only ones who will benefit from it,” Torres said.

According to the central committee, a temporary unilateral ceasefire is an expression of unity with the Filipino people’s observance of traditional holidays the revolutionary forces a brief period mark and celebrate the CPP’s upcoming 50th anniversary.

Torres, however, said it would have been better if the ceasefire is forever.

"Sana maging forever na yung the ceasefire (I wish the ceasefire is forever) because if you will not bear arms against the government we can just always sit down and talk peacefully if we have differences," Torres said.

Torres said the members of the NPA should use the ceasefire period to reflect and assess the programs being offered by the government, adding that it is also time for them to celebrate Christmas with their family.

"I would just like to inform our brothers who are still with the NPA. I would like you to really observe that (ceasefire) and you are allowed to go back to your homes this Christmas season. Return to your homes and feel the warmth of the love of your family, of your friends,” he said.

He said rebels should consider government programs on reconciliation, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1056170