‘Ceasefire in effect only if gov’t orders SOMO’

By: Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – The spokesperson of the New People’s Army (NPA) Apolinario Gatmaitan Command said the ball is now in the government’s hands in implementing the holiday ceasefire which was agreed upon this weekend.

In a statement, Ka Juanito Magbanua said that “the ceasefire order shall take effect upon issuance of the corresponding and reciprocal ceasefire orders in the form of Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) and Suspension of Police Operations (SOPO) to be issued by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).”

Earlier, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Central Committee announced a nationwide ceasefire to all NPA commands and units and people’s militia.

The nationwide ceasefire order will take effect from 12 a.m. December 23, 2019 to 11:59 p.m. of January 7, 2020.

The NPA in Negros shall be on defensive mode and will suspend all tactical offensives as soon as the ceasefire begins. But as ordered, active-defense operations shall be undertaken only in the face of clear and imminent danger and actual armed attack by hostile forces, Magbanua said.

“The ball is on Duterte’s court if the GRP will reciprocate or not. The CPP-NPA-NDFP has already shown good will and readiness for confidence building,” he added.