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In a move dismissed by government officials as mere propaganda, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has announced a four-day holiday ceasefire for its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA). The temporary cessation of hostilities coincides with the group’s 57th anniversary celebrations and the holiday season.
According to a statement released by the CPP’s Central Committee on Monday, the ceasefire will be implemented in two separate periods: from midnight on December 25, 2025, until 11:59 p.m. on December 26, 2025, and again from midnight on December 31, 2025, through 11:59 p.m. on January 1, 2026.
During these periods, NPA units have been instructed to assume an “active defense mode,” particularly in areas where they claim government forces are conducting operations against them.
“This temporary ceasefire order is being issued in solidarity with the Filipino people as they conduct simple celebrations of their traditional holidays, amid grave social and economic conditions,” the CPP explained in their statement.
The announcement comes amid the Philippines’ ongoing counterinsurgency campaign against the CPP-NPA, which has waged one of Asia’s longest-running communist insurgencies since its founding in 1968. The conflict has claimed an estimated 40,000 lives over the decades.
However, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) swiftly rejected the declaration, characterizing it as a propaganda exercise rather than a genuine peace initiative.
“Military responsibilities are continuous and are not subject to unilateral pronouncements by armed groups,” said AFP public affairs office chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad, indicating that government forces would maintain their operational tempo regardless of the rebel announcement.
Trinidad emphasized that the military would continue coordinating with other law enforcement agencies to “ensure peace and order and prevent armed groups from exploiting the situation to regroup, rearm, or threaten public safety.”
This sentiment was echoed by AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla, who stated that the Philippine military “remains focused on the uninterrupted performance of its constitutional mandate to protect the people and secure communities nationwide.”
“Military responsibilities are continuous. The AFP will carry on with its operations and sustain close coordination with the Philippine National Police to ensure peace and order throughout the holiday period,” Padilla added.
The Department of National Defense (DND) took an even firmer stance, describing the CPP statement as a “sad propaganda stunt” and reiterating that “military duties are not subject to pause or seasons.”
This exchange highlights the enduring tensions between the Philippine government and communist rebels despite various peace initiatives launched over the years. The current administration, like its predecessors, has taken a hardline approach against the insurgency, rejecting periodic ceasefire offers as insincere or tactical maneuvers.
Security analysts note that the CPP-NPA has been significantly weakened in recent years due to sustained military pressure, leadership losses, and declining public support. However, the group maintains a presence in remote rural areas, particularly in the southern and eastern regions of the country.
The government’s dismissal of this latest ceasefire declaration suggests little prospect for renewed peace negotiations in the near term, as both sides remain deeply entrenched in their positions. For civilians in conflict-affected areas, the holiday period may bring little respite from the decades-old insurgency that continues to impact development and security across parts of the Philippine archipelago.
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7 Comments
This ceasefire announcement seems like a PR move by the CPP-NPA to gain sympathy during the holidays. The government is right to dismiss it as propaganda – they need to remain vigilant against this long-running insurgency.
I agree. The CPP-NPA has a history of using ceasefires to regroup and resupply, not genuine goodwill. The government should stay on high alert during this period.
While a temporary ceasefire may provide some respite for civilians, the CPP-NPA’s history of using such pauses to regroup and resupply means the government cannot afford to let its guard down. Vigilance is needed to prevent this insurgency from regaining strength.
The CPP-NPA’s claim of solidarity with the Filipino people rings hollow given their long record of violence and extortion. This ceasefire is likely a calculated move to garner positive PR, not a genuine gesture of goodwill.
While a holiday ceasefire could provide some temporary respite for civilians, it’s hard to take the CPP-NPA’s motives at face value. This is likely an attempt to portray themselves as compassionate while they continue their insurgency.
Exactly. The government is right to be skeptical. Any pause in hostilities should be viewed with caution given the CPP-NPA’s longstanding goal of overthrowing the government.
This ceasefire announcement is a predictable move by the CPP-NPA ahead of their anniversary and the holidays. But the government would be wise not to lower its guard, as this group has a track record of exploiting such pauses for their own tactical advantage.