(UPDATED) - President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines to suspend military operations against the New People's Army, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines' (CPP), in observance of the holiday season.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said Duterte's declaration of unilateral ceasefire with the CPP, NPA and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) would take place from December 24, 2017 to January 2, 2018.
Roque said the government was expecting the communist group to reciprocate Duterte's announcement of a unilateral truce.
"The President announced last night a suspension of military operations from December 24, 2017 to January 2, 2018," the presidential spokesman said in a statement.
"This unilateral ceasefire would lessen the apprehension of the public this Christmas season. We expect that the CPP-NPA-NDFP would do a similar gesture of goodwill," he added.
Duterte earlier signed Proclamations 360 and 274, which formally terminates the government's peace talks with CPP's political wing NDF and declares CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization, respectively.
In November, the President said he would no longer declare a truce with the communist insurgents, saying they lack sincerity in negotiating with the government.
In an interview in Pasay City early Wednesday, December 20, the President hinted that he might declare cessation of hostilities with the communists, even after he declared them as terrorists, to allow Filipinos to celebrate Christmas season "without stress."
Roque said the declaration of unilateral ceasefire aimed to fulfill the Duterte administration's aspiration to achieve peace in the country.
"Christmas holds a special place in the hearts of our countrymen. In the observance of this occasion, we hope that all Filipinos would stand together as one nation and aspire for peace in our beloved Philippines," he said.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the military will abide by the President's decision.
“I was actually adamant. I did not recommend for the cessation of military operation against the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army. But if the President declared so then we are going to implement and abide by the directive of the President,” he said. (With Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)