Despite the GRP violation of their own unilateral ceasefire, the health committees and revolutionary forces of the entire NDFP continue to carry out programs for the health, welfare and safety of the Filipino masses where the NDFP operates. Although the NPA refrains from undertaking attacks against GRP armed forces, it observes an active defense policy to protect the communities from serious violations of the GRP armed forces.

NDFP Executive Committee and National Council member Luis Jalandoni

Luis Jalandoni, member of the Executive Committee and National Council of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) has submitted a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres disclosing the offensive military operations conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) from March 16, 2020 to April 15, 2020, in 196 villages of 96 towns, in gross violation of their own unilateral ceasefire declaration.

On the other hand, the New People’s Army (NPA) has complied fully with the unilateral ceasefire order of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in response to the humanitarian appeal of the UN Secretary General for parties involved in armed conflicts to declare a global ceasefire in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic.

The offensive operations by the soldiers and police forces of the GRP are in defiance of the UN Secretary General’s appeal.

Jalandoni in his letter to Guterres said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have mounted 13 attacks or assaults against the NPA and conducted at least five aerial bombardment and artillery shelling in the 96 towns and 196 villages mentioned, citing reports from the CPP’s Information Bureau.

“The NDFP National Council has deeply valued your appreciation of the unilateral ceasefire issued by the CPP on March 16, 2020 in response to your call for a global ceasefire among warring parties in order to combat Covid-19 pandemic”. Jalandoni

Expressing deep appreciation for the UN Sec-Gen’s important call for global unity to combat effectively the COVID-19 pandemic, Jalandoni stressed that the NDFP is committed to continue its programs throughout the country to protect the people against the COVID-19 pandemic and the Duterte regime’s violations of its own unilateral ceasefire and the people’s fundamental human rights.

“The health committees and the revolutionary forces of the New People’s Army, the CPP , the NPA and the entire NDFP, continue to carry out programs in all 73 provinces where the NDFP forces operate, despite the GRP violations of their unilateral ceasefire. The NPA refrains from undertaking attacks against the GRP’s armed forces. The NPA is observing an active defense policy to protect the community from the serious violations of the GRP’s arned forces,” Jalandoni emphasized.

Jalandoni said the NDFP National Council, the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army, shall decide regarding the unilateral ceasefire of the CPP that ends on April 15, 2020.#

NDFP International Information Office

Utrecht, The Netherlands

15 April 2020