In a tragic turn of events, the two-day ceasefire declared by the New People’s Army (NPA) was shattered when a clash with government forces in Bukidnon resulted in the death of nine NPA members on Christmas Day. The encounter took place in the hinterlands of Malaybalay City, the provincial capital of Bukidnon.
Maj. Francisco Garello, spokesman for the Army 4th Infantry Division based in Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City, confirmed the incident. It is important to note that the Communist Party of the Philippines and NPA had called for the ceasefire in observance of the CPP’s 55th anniversary on December 26.
While the NPA had declared the ceasefire, the military had not reciprocated and continued its combat operations against the insurgents. The clash resulted in no casualties on the Army’s side, according to Garello.
Prior to the Bukidnon clash, the NPA had expressed its readiness and remained on high alert in case government forces launched an offensive. In a statement, CPP chief information officer Marco Valbuena criticized the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), accusing them of state terrorism and their inability to give respite to the masses tired of the presence of armed soldiers in their communities.
Valbuena further alleged that the AFP was desperately trying to meet its declared war objective of crushing the NPA by the end of the year, leading to a rampage of state terrorism across the country. He expressed disappointment in the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for not reciprocating the NPA ceasefire.
Despite the clash, the NPA will still gather in several unspecified places in the coming days to mark the CPP’s anniversary. Valbuena mentioned that party branches would gather to read the message of the Central Committee, assess the situation, and reaffirm their commitment to fighting for social justice and freedom.
The communist rebellion in the Philippines has been ongoing for six decades, making it the longest insurgency in Asia. The conflict has claimed the lives of over 40,000 individuals. Despite numerous attempts to work out a peace deal, previous negotiations have failed.
The Marcos Jr. administration is currently working towards getting negotiations back on track. Earlier this month, a preliminary agreement was reached with communist leaders in Oslo, Norway.
While the clash in Bukidnon is a setback to the ceasefire, it is important to remember the complexities of the situation and the long-standing history of conflict in the Philippines. The road to peace may be challenging, but the commitment to finding a resolution must continue.
Source: The Manila Times
