Government announces unilateral holiday truce

Manila: President Gloria Arroyo has approved a "unilateral" four-day suspension of military operations against communist rebels in light of the holidays and as recommended by the armed forces.

Executive secretary Eduardo Ermita, in a press briefing Wednesday, said the president had given her the nod to the suspension of military operations (Somo) as suggested by Armed Forces of the Philippines chief, General Victor Ibrado.

Ermita said that the temporary halt in the operation against insurgents, will be implemented across the country and was in consonance with the Filipino tradition of honouring the Christian holidays.

"The Somo with the New People's Army will be observed from 12.01am of December 24 to 12 noon of December 26 and 12.01am of December 31, 2009 to 12 noon of January 1, 2010," Ermita, said.

The New People's Army (NPA) is the armed revolutionary component of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) will hold the 41st year of its establishment on December 26 and it is expected to declare its own temporary halt in operations against government forces any time soon.

The CPP, for its part, said it will also order its own Somo.

"The Central Committee of the CPP hereby directs all units of the NPA to suspend offensive military operations from 12.01am of December 24, 2009, to 11.59pm of December 26, 2009, and from 12.01am of December 31, 2009, to 11.59 pm of January 1, 2010," it said.