The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) announced on Tuesday a 12-day unilateral Christmas and New Year truce, which is a week longer than the ceasefire they have declared during the last Yuletide season.

The rebel truce -- which starts at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 23 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 3 -- was announced by National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni in a statement posted on the NDFP website.

The NDFP has been representing the CPP and its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA), in peace negotiations with the government. Formal talks between the NDFP and the government remain stalled over the past years.

Jalandoni said the truce, declared by the CPP on the recommendation of the NDFP, will be observed"in solidarity with the Filipino people's traditional celebrations of the Christmas and New Year's holidays."

During the truce, Jalandoni said NPA units and militias"shall cease and desist from carrying out offensive military operations against the armed units and personnel"of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and other paramilitary and armed groups affiliated with the government.

The communist truce is longer than the Christmas and New Year ceasefire they declared last year -- Dec. 24, 25 and 26 for Christmas and Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 for New Year. The CPP also observed a truce from Jan. 15 to 19 for the visit of Pope Francis.

Armed Forces spokesman Col. Restituto Padila said they are still awaiting approval from President Aquino of the military's recommendation for the government's declaration of a Yuletide season truce.

Padilla did not say the dates recommended by the Armed Forces to be covered by its proposed Suspension of Offensive Military Operations. The military's truce for last year was from midnight of Dec. 18 to midnight of Jan. 19.

"The declaration of an annual ceasefire is traditional in nature and you can be assured that once we get the approval from the president who is also our commander-in-chief, this will be announced, so the Filipino people will be aware,"said Padilla.

In a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday, Padilla said the communists should strictly abide by their self-declared truce, noting that there have been instances in the past where the rebels have violated their own ceasefire.

"The Armed Forces of the Philippines hopes that the CPP and their unit, the NPA, will strictly abide by this self-declared ceasefire and will live up to their promise of non-violent and peaceful holidays for the Filipinos and their members ...There have been instances in the past that the ceasefire has been violated,"he said. Endit

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