THE grieving Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is not keen on seeking a ceasefire with the government forces this holiday season due to the death of its founder, Joma Sison.
Sison passed away on December 16 after being confined for two weeks in a hospital in the Netherlands where he was in exile for years.
The CPP, which earlier declared a period of mourning, said in a statement that there is “absolutely no reason to declare a ceasefire to mark the holidays and the upcoming 54th Party anniversary” on December 26.
The communist group claimed that state forces continue to deploy in communities.
Its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), was authorized to launch tactical offensives against the government troopers as “the NPA must demonstrate in a concentrated form the people’s outrage against the AFP and political repression, socioeconomic oppression and national treachery under the US-Marcos regime, and strengthen their determination to fight back against state terrorism and carry forward their revolutionary struggles,” the CPP said.
In response, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said they are ready for any possible offensives by the NPA.
The conflict between the communist rebels has been ongoing for decades now.
At the end of the day, it’s always the people caught in the crossfire who will end up on the losing side.*