1. All units of the New People’s Army (NPA) will continue to uphold the ceasefire declaration of the CPP Central Committee in order to give full play to efforts to extend public health service to the people amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
2. In line with the CPP’s ceasefire declaration, the NPA will not mount armed actions against military, police, paramilitary and other armed agents attached to the GRP. The will, however, remain alert against offensive actions launched by AFP units.
3. Based on AFP reports themselves, the armed clash in Rizal last March 28 was an armed encounter which broke out when troops under the 2nd ID carried out patrol operations mounted by the local AFP unit.
The claim that the NPA unit was planning an attack is baseless.
4. The Party assures AFP soldiers that they will not be attacked during the ceasefire period especially if they are conducting public health activites in relation to efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19.
We urge AFP units to concentrate on Covid-19 operations and refrain from conducting anti-NPA patrol operations which may result in armed contact with nearby NPA units.
At this time, the Filipino people need all the help they can get to surmount the threat of Covid-19.
