MANILA, Philippines — State security forces will tighten their guard against possible attacks by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) for its 52nd anniversary on Dec. 26.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said this Friday as he noted that operations against the communist rebels will continue after President Duterte shunned the declaration of holiday ceasefire with the Reds.
“Medyo paigtingin lang siguro ng konti iyan habang papalapit iyong anibersaryo ng CPP-NPA-NDF sa 26 December. Kasi ang ginagawa nila, gumagawa sila ng karahasan para ipakita sa lahat ng tao na sila’y nandiyan pa at hindi pa sila nawawala,” Lorenzana said in a televised Laging Handa Public Briefing.
Duterte said during his weekly address on Monday night that there will be no more ceasefire with the communist group for the rest of his term.
“There will be no ceasefire ever again under my term as president. For all intents and purposes the ceasefire is dead,” Duterte said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said last week it would not recommend to the President a ceasefire with the communist rebels for the holidays. The government and NPA had been traditionally declaring ceasefires during the Christmas season.