Members of the New Peoples Army (NPA) belonging to the Pulang Bagani Command celebrate the 40th Founding Anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) somewhere in Davao City on Friday, December 26, 2008. The NPA, which is the armed wing of the CPP, has been fighting for the establishment of the Marxist state in the Philippines since 1968. AKP Images/ Keith Bacongco
MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Philippine Army has accused the New People’s Army of breaking the holiday truce after an alleged attack in Kitaotao, Bukidnon last Wednesday night.
Col. Jesse Alvarez, commander of the Philippine Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade, said an undetermine number of communist rebels fired rifle grenades at houses in Barangay White Kulaman in Kitaotao town around 7 p.m. on December 23.
“While we are observing SOMO (Suspension of Military Operations), still our troops securing far-flung communities are on heightened alert in anticipation of NPA attacks and atrocities. We call on the CPP-NPA to be sincere in their ceasefire pronouncement, and spare the lives of innocent civilians especially during this yuletide season,” Alvarez said in a statement.
Alvarez said troops from the 2nd Special Forces Company fired back at the suspected rebels, who immediately retreated.
No one was hurt in the incident, the Army official said.
The Communist Party of the Philippines on December 15 announced that its holiday ceasefire declaration will take effect at 12:01 a.m. of December 23, 2015 and will end at 11:59 p.m. of Jan. 3, 2016.
President Benigno Aquino III, meanwhile, approved the military’s holiday ceasefire from 12:01 a.m. of Dec. 23, 2015 until 11:59 p.m. of Jan. 3, 2016.
The Philippine National Police also declared a Christmas truce from midnight of Dec. 23, 2015 until midnight of Jan. 1, 2016. (MNS)