AFP
chief-of-staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang said his piece the other day after military
earlier declared a suspension of military operations starting Friday midnight, Dec.
18 to midnight of Jan. 19 while the NPAs announced a truce date of Dec. 24 to 26.
Catapang
clarified that his issue of extra vigilance for the troops and defensive alert is
for the dates that the NPA truce is not effective.
The
yuletide truce in the country is but an unofficial ceasefire around Christmas observed
by both troops every yearend.
Last
Dec. 15, the military’s month-long suspension of military and police offensives
against communist guerrillas in observance of the Christmas holidays already started.
The
holiday respite, however, will continue against hard-line Muslim militants.
And
even if the AFP is not expecting any NPA offensives, Catapang reiterated that they
will still be extra careful their communist enemies will not be able to creep
on military patrol bases and caught them by surprise.
Catapang
added the military “all always prepared for any eventuality” and that added all
troopers must be “health conscious” now that it is open season for holiday
feasting.