AFP to recommend holiday truce with NPA

By Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star) Updated November 29, 2010 

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will recommend to President Aquino the suspension of military operations (SOMO) against communist rebels during the holiday season, a senior military officer said yesterday.

“Looking at the present situation, I would suppose that we would also be recommending for similar declaration (SOMO) as what we have done in the past years,” AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. told radio dzBB.

He said the holiday truce may cover both Christmas and New Year.

“We would suppose it would cover both,” Mabanta, who is also AFP’s civil relations chief, said.

The AFP spokesman said the SOMO does not mean that they would not respond to possible attacks by insurgents.

“We will be in active defense posture, which means if we see that there is a threat against our own position and in the villages and against our people, we have to act,” Mabanta said.

He noted that the declaration of a SOMO would depend on the decision of the President, also the commander-in-chief of the AFP.

Last year, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a yuletide ceasefire against the communist rebels that took effect from Dec. 24 to 26 and from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1.

Palace officials said the President approved the unilateral truce “in keeping with the Christmas spirit of peace and goodwill.”

Security forces, however, were ordered to remain on alert despite the truce in light of the anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Dec. 26, which may prod rebel forces to launch attacks.

The government has declared a holiday truce with the insurgents since 1986.

Jose Maria Sison, who is currently on self-exile in Netherlands, formed the CPP in 1968. Since then, the rebels have been waging insurgency campaigns to seize political power.

The AFP has claimed that the strength of the communist movement has declined to around 4,700 from a peak of 25,200 in 1987. The decline has been attributed to the government’s anti-poverty programs and the alleged conflict among leaders of the rebellion.

The Arroyo administration sought to wipe out the decades-old insurgency by June 30 this year but failed.

The Aquino administration, on the other hand, is currently creating a counter-insurgency plan that will focus on developmental initiatives designed to address the roots of rebellion like poverty. It has also vowed to resume the stalled peace talks with the insurgents.

The military, meanwhile, said it will consider the inputs of various sectors like academe, civil society and religious groups in crafting the plan.