Rizal NPA declare weeklong ceasefire to give way to relief operations

(photo from www.ndfp.net)

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InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines -- The New People’s Army command in Rizal province on Saturday announced a weeklong truce to give way to relief operations for victims of the recent floods.

The Narciso Antazo Aramil Command said the suspension of military offensives, from midnight of August 11 to midnight of August 17, was in compliance with orders from the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front.

For the duration of the truce, the Rizal rebels said in a statement, military and police forces, as well as government militias, would be free to enter and leave “territories of the people’s democratic government” to visit their families and to assist flood victims.

NPA units in the province were also ordered to extend assistance to flood victims while remaining in “defensive mode” against possible attacks by government forces.

The NPA command said experience has shown that the military and police allegedly use disasters as an opportunity to enter their territories to spy or conduct offensives.

It appealed to “young officers and ordinary soldiers and policemen not to obey orders from their superiors to launch military operations at a time when the NPA is helping those suffering form the floods.”

It also appealed for donations for the victims.

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