Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar. (PNA file photo)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Jose Ruperto Martin Andanar and government officials in Region 10 on Monday lauded the Christmas truce agreed between the government and communist rebels during the holiday season.
Andanar, who also heads the Cabinet Officers for Regional Development and Security (Cords) in Region 10, said President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to declare a nationwide unilateral and reciprocal ceasefire with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) --the communist rebel movement's political arm--bodes well for the possible resumption of peace talks between both sides.
The ceasefire takes effect on December 23, 2019 until January 7, 2020.
"This confidence-building measure has always been part of this administration’s campaign in ending the five-decade-old armed conflict with the CPP-NPA-NDF groups. Our armed forces and authorities will continue to remain vigilant and attentive throughout the period of the ceasefire, at the ready to respond to any threats should there be any," Andanar said.
He was referring to the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army.
Meanwhile, Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano said he was elated with the President's ceasefire proclamation as it will help the province's localized peace talks with the rebels.
"For governor Emano, the ceasefire is a huge gift for the soldiers and rebels that none of their lives will go to waste this Christmas season only because of the different principles they believed between the two groups," Misamis Oriental provincial information officer Carlo Dugaduga quoted the governor as saying.
A statement by the CPP Central Committee said it has advised all NPA units in the country to implement their own Suspension of Military Operations (Somo) and Suspension of Police Operations (Sopo).
"The purpose of the reciprocal and unilateral ceasefires is to generate a positive atmosphere conducive to the holding of informal talks preparatory to the resumption of the formal peace talks. The ceasefire order is being issued in solidarity with the traditional celebrations of Christmas and New Year holidays," the CPP said.
Duterte's Proclamation No. 360 on Nov. 23, 2017, Duterte terminated peace negotiations with the NDFP-CPP-NPA. In March this year, the President announced that the talks were "completely terminated".
No effect on EO70
After the termination of the peace talks, Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) No. 70 in 2018, creating the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), including its localized versions, through the local government units.
Cords-10, under Andanar's leadership, was tasked to implement and supervise EO 70 in the region, which according to Andanar will remain unhampered.
"We will also continue the implementation of the initiatives under the NTF-ELCAC as its whole-of-nation approach to deliver basic social and security services and development and to facilitate inclusivity is the best framework with which we can end the communist conflict," Andanar said.
"We will continue to be serious and committed to attaining the peace that this nation has been longing for with the CPP-NPA-NDF as we want to achieve security, progress, and development together with all Filipinos," he added.
In one of the gatherings participated by the media here on December 13, Andanar said that the Regional TF-ELCAC in Northern Mindanao tops the country for being the most active region in implementing EO 70 and yielding rebel surrenders.
Police alert
Despite the ceasefire, Brig. General Rolando Anduyan, police regional director in Northern Mindanao, directed all the police units to remain vigilant.
Anduyan said that all units "shall implement active and passive measures as necessary" to deter or prevent the NPA from conducting possible atrocities.
“We will make sure that the NPA would not be given a room to stage raids and harassment to our personnel and police units,” Anduyan said. “Undertake target hardening measures and secure vital installations, remain on guard and maintain a high state of operational readiness to respond to enemy hostile actions."
The Police Regional Office-10 (PRO-10) said that the Sopo shall not cover normal law enforcement operations against lawless elements and criminality.
Anduyan also ordered the police to closely coordinate their efforts with their military counterparts.
Meanwhile, PRO 10 said it will continue to call on the remaining NPA members "to surrender and give up their worthless struggle so they can live a normal life together with their love ones especially this Christmas season, since the life in the revolution will never give them peace of mind but instead give them more miseries and death". (PNA)
