/ AFP / Noel Celis/
(Eagle News) — The military on Wednesday accused the communist rebels of violating the unilateral ceasefire it earlier declared for the holidays, and in commemoration of the group’s anniversary.
In a statement, the 10th Infantry Division said on December 25, for instance, around 30 rebels went after Arbilito Catampao, a member of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary in Compostela Valley.
Catampao only escaped the rebels by running as fast as he could.
The Melale Patrol Base, a militia outpost, was also “harassed” by NPA members on the same day, the division said.
It said a two-minute firefight ensued between the two camps, with some NPA members killed.
There were no casualties on the government side.
The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, declared a unilateral ceasefire, effective 6 p.m. on December 23; to 6 p.m. on December 26, and on the same hours on December 30 to January 2, 2018.
This was after the government declared a unilateral ceasefire with the communist rebels.
The ceasefire was effective 6 p.m. on December 23 to 11:59 p.m. on December 26, and on the same hours from December 30 to January 2, 2018.