DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 24, 2013) – Suspected communist rebels torched three taxicabs in Panabo City in southern Philippines ahead of a unilateral cease-fire to take effect on midnight of Tuesday, reports said.
It said New People’s Army rebels were to blame for the burning of cabs owned by Holiday Taxi Company and that failed extortion was the likely motive for the attack. The drivers were left unharmed by the gunmen.
The NPA imposed the cease-fire to allow rebels to celebrate the group’s 45th anniversary on December 26. It urged rebel forces to stay vigilant because of possible military attacks.
Rubi del Mundo, a spokesman for the rebel group, said the truce will take effect on Christmas eve up to December 26, and from New Year’s eve to January 2, 2014. The order was issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
“All New People’s Army units in Southern Mindanao region will strictly comply with the directive of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines to cease and desist from carrying out offensive operations against elements of the AFP, the PNP and the paramilitary forces of the GPH starting this midnight December 24 up to December 26, 11:59 p.m. and again during the midnight of December 31 up to January 2, 2014.”
“This is to give way for the celebration by the region’s revolutionary forces, underground mass organizations and urban-based forces of the CPP’s 45th year anniversary inside the guerrilla zones and guerrilla bases in the countryside on December 26,” Del Mundo said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
The Philippine military also imposed a unilateral cease-fire on December 21 which directed troops to suspend all offensive operations in the country.
But Del Mundo has accused the military of failing to comply with its own cease-fire and said security forces attacked NPA rebels in the southern region, particularly in Davao City and in North Cotabato province.
The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is fighting for a separate state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
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