Philippines: Government and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels ended truce Sunday
The 12-day holiday truce between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is set to end Sunday night with the military reiterating its call for the rebels to renounce violence and live peaceful lives.
With the end of the ceasefire, the military can resume offensive operations against the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the CPP.
“The armed forces will cease its active defense mode and will switch back to full military operations against all enemies of the state,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla said in an interview.
“Every Filipino is saddened by the (fact) that peace only comes during the holidays particularly the Christmas season. The AFP believes that the Filipino is aspiring to finally attain peace in the whole country,” he added.
Padilla said it’s about time that the CPP-NPA consider abandoning the armed struggle, the only remaining communist insurgency in Asia.