Reds slam Malacañang for ‘pretending’ to want peace

Communist rebels decried Malacañang yesterday for acting "cheap" in playing up the possibility of declaring a holiday ceasefire while intensifying its counter-insurgency campaign.

In a statement, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal insisted Arroyo virtually shot down the possibility of ceasefire with communist guerrillas.

"Since (President) Macapagal-Arroyo declared an all-out war last August, state violence and human rights abuses have been on the rise especially in Mindoro, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos, Central Visayas, Northern and Western Mindanao," Rosal said.

Rosal claimed Malacañang had not made any progress in announcing Monday the possibility of declaring a unilateral ceasefire with the communist guerrillas this holiday season.

Malacañang said they are still awaiting the recommendations of top security officials on whether to declare the traditional holiday truce with the New People’s Army (NPA).

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye had stressed such possibility but on the condition that the CPP-NPA would reciprocate and respect any declaration of truce during the holiday season.

Rosal, however, said that "what the people want for this Christmas season is a cessation of the all-out war of terror against civilians."

Rosal also belied claims that they are preparing to intensify attacks against civilian targets to mark their 34th anniversary on Dec. 26. – Bong Fabe, Artemio Dumlao, Teddy Molina