The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today said Philippine government is “in direct contempt” of the United Nations and its global ceasefire amid the Covid-19 pandemic as state armed forces continue to mount non-stop combat operations against the New People’s Army (NPA). Military and police units across the country have continued to carry out relentless offensives despite Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s unilateral ceasefire declaration which covers the period March 19 to April 15.

“The Philippine government is showing complete disregard for the United Nations and the global ceasefire it sought amid the Covid-19 pandemic,” pointed out Marco Valbuena, Chief Information Officer of the CPP.

Based on compilation of reports by NPA units, Duterte’s military and police forces continue to conduct counterinsurgency operations in at least 63 towns and cities, covering 97 rural villages across the country. This has resulted in series of armed encounters and widespread violation of human rights. Over the past three weeks, state forces attacked and raided at least seven NPA encampments in the provinces of Rizal, Quezon, Bukidnon and Zamboanga Sibugay. The AFP also conducted airstrikes and artillery shelling in Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro and Bukidnon.

The CPP issued its own unilateral ceasefire declaration in response to the call of the United Nations for a global ceasefire. The CPP/NPA’s ceasefire took effect on March 26 and will last until April 15.

According to the CPP, the ceasefire will also give all NPA units the opportunity to carry out a public health campaign to help the masses surmount the Covid-19 epidemic. Units of the NPA are conducting information drives, and campaigns for sanitation and personal hygiene. All NPA units have complied with the CPP declaration. Valbuena, however, said NPA units must go on “extra alert” in the face of the relentless offensives of AFP and PNP units.