Skirmishes in Bukidnon between NPA rebels and Gov't forces disrupts ceasefire

Despite the Communist Party of the Philippines and NPA calling for a ceasefire in honor of the CPP's 55th anniversary on December 26, the military did not reciprocate and continued combat operations.

No casualties were reported on the Army's side, and the NPA had maintained high alert before the Bukidnon clash, anticipating a potential government offensive.

The CPP chief information officer, Marco Valbuena, accused the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) of pursuing its objective to crush the NPA by the year-end, alleging a state terrorism rampage nationwide.

Valbuena expressed skepticism about the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reciprocating the NPA ceasefire. Despite the clashes, the rebels plan to gather in undisclosed locations in the coming days to commemorate the CPP's anniversary.

The communist insurgency in the Philippines, spanning six decades, holds the record as Asia's longest.

Despite numerous failed peace attempts, the Marcos Jr. administration seeks to revive negotiations, with a preliminary agreement reached with communist leaders in Oslo, Norway, earlier this month.

9 NPA rebels died in running gun battle with government troops in Malaybalay City Bukidnon

 

MALAYBALAY CITY - On Christmas Day, a skirmish occurred in the hinterlands of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, resulting in the death of nine New People's Army (NPA) rebels.

Major General Jose Maria Cuerpo, commanding general of the Army's 4th Infantry Division, reported that the rebels, suspected to be gearing up for an event related to the Communist Party of the Philippines' founding anniversary, were engaged by government troops.

The clash, which took place despite the Communist Party's unilateral ceasefire, involved three Army battalions supported by Philippine Air Force airstrikes.

The operation, executed at 3 am in Sitio Kiito, Barangay Can-ayan, located seven kilometers from Malaybalay City, led to the recovery of eight firearms. No soldiers were injured, and follow-up operations continued on Christmas day to locate the remaining rebels in nearby barangays. The military action occurred just three hours after the commencement of the two-day holiday truce declared by the Communist Party of the Philippines.