No recommendation for holiday truce with Reds: AFP

FILE: AFP General Headquarters (Photo By Judgefloro – Own work, CC0)

MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said it is not aware of any recommendations regarding any unilateral ceasefire with communist rebels for the Christmas season.

“I am not aware of the recommendation. The most that we can do is to declare SOMO (suspension offensive military operation) and move to active defense, especially in areas where the insurgents are already weak,” AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar told reporters, when asked whether the AFP has recommended a unilateral ceasefire with Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front.

Aguilar, however, expressed hope that those commanding the insurgents will allow their men to go home and experience the holidays in peace with their loved ones.

He also believes that this would give them time to think about their future and those of their families.

“We pray that the insurgents will also be allowed to go to their families and think about their future,” Aguilar said.

Aguilar also expressed hope that the rebels would choose the path to peace for the new year.

“We hope that come New Year, their resolution will be to abandon armed struggle and all forms of violence that destroy human lives and properties,” he said.