Interior Secretary Eduardo M. Año on Tuesday dismissed the reported unilateral cease-fire declaration of the Communist Party of the Philippines as meaningless and nothing but a propaganda gimmick.
“This is baloney. They [the communists] should not use Christmas in their pretense for a cease-fire because we know they are [merely bent] to strengthen their forces,” Año said in a news statement issued on Tuesday.
Echoing the stand issued earlier by the defense department, Año said the Department of the Interior and Local Government is not recommending a holiday truce because the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) will only exploit the truce to consolidate its forces to celebrate its 50th founding anniversary.
“Every year, they declare a cease-fire and the government gives way in the spirit of Christmas. At this juncture, we will not join the ride,” the former Armed Forces chief of staff said.
Año also warned that the CPP-NPA might attack government troops to highlight its forthcoming 50th anniversary commemoration.
“We will not allow ourselves to fall into the same trap again. We have seen time and again the insincerity of the communists and their front organizations,” he said.
The CPP Central Committee announced last Friday a temporary cease-fire to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on December 24 to 11:59 p.m. on December 26, and at 12:01 a.m. on December 31 to 11:59 of January 1, 2019.
Año said nothing will come out of a truce because the CPP-NPA-NDF has really no intention to stop fighting with government forces during a cease-fire.
“Don’t just talk. If they are sincere in having peace, President Duterte has long ago asked [CPP chairman]Joma Sison to return and talk to him face-to-face,” Año said.