DND chief OK with Reds no ceasefire declaration

FILE: EXERCISE RESTRAINT AROUND PH WATERS. Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana appeals to foreign nations to exercise restraint while their warships pass through the West Philippine Sea and waters near the country, during the media briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday (June 10, 2019). Lorenzana said any imprudent behavior could lead to an international incident or conflict, as he cited the two incidents between US, China and Russian warships in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea in October 2018 and in June 2019. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday said he is fine with the decision of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) not to declare a ceasefire during the Yuletide Season.

“Okay lang sa amin kasi kami hindi nagdeclare ng ceasefire, kailangan naman dalawang magkasundo para magdeclare ng ceasefire (It’s okay with us [referring to the defense and military sectors] as we did not declare a ceasefire, it needs two parties to agree to declare a ceasefire),” he said during an interview with reporters at the sidelines of the fleet review and wing flyby held off Morong, Bataan on Wednesday.

Earlier, the CPP urged all New People’s Army (NPA) units to conduct secret meetings to mark its 52nd founding on December 26.

The communist terrorists also said they will continue with their harassments during the holiday season since the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) did not declare a ceasefire for this year.

Lorenzana said the CPP-NPA probably opted not to declare their own ceasefire after learning that President Rodrigo R. Duterte is no longer interested in one.

The DND chief added that during ceasefires in past years, the CPP-NPA was known to use the opportunity to resupply, refurbish, regroup, and recruit new members in far-off barangays.

“So huwag na nating pag-usapan ang ceasefire kung ganun ang ginagawa nila (So let us not talk of any ceasefire if they only do that,” he said.

The DND chief also dismissed CPP-NPA claims that AFP units are attacking them during ceasefires, adding that it is the communist terrorists who are known to violate such truces.