Philippine communist rebels said today they would order their forces to observe a month-long ceasefire to take effect from next weekend upon receipt of a reciprocal gesture by the government.
Presidential peace adviser Eduardo Ermita told
Reuters
that President Gloria Macapagal was still awaiting a recommendation from her security advisers before ordering government forces to also observe a ceasefire.
Both sides have traditionally ceased offensive operations during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
"We hereby declare to all command and units of the New People's Army and the people's militia a ceasefire order to be effective upon the reciprocal and concurrent ceasefire order from the government of the Republic of the Philippines to its military, police and paramilitary forces, within the period of 2400 hours of December 15, 2001 to 2400 hours of 15 January 2002," the rebels said in a statement faxed to news offices.
The NPA is the military wing of the communist-led National Democratic Front, which is waging a 32-year revolt to establish a Marxist state in the poor, largely Catholic Philippines.