CPP-NPA ceasefire stands amid COVID-19

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Marco Valbuena, Chief Information Officer of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said Monday that all units of the New People’s Army (NPA) will continue to uphold the ceasefire declaration of the CPP Central Committee “to extend public health service to the people amid the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In a press statement, Valbuena said that in line with the CPP’s ceasefire declaration, the NPA will not mount armed actions against military, police, paramilitary and other armed agents attached to the government of the Republic of the Philippines GRP.

They will, however, remain alert against offensive actions launched by AFP units.

He added that the party assures AFP soldiers that they will not be attacked during the ceasefire period, especially if they are conducting public health activities relative to efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

“We urge AFP units to concentrate on COVID-19 operations and refrain from conducting anti-NPA patrol operations which may result in armed contact with nearby NPA units. At this time, the Filipino people need all the help they can get to surmount the threat of COVID-19.”