MARIT STINUS-CABUGON
A GOVERNMENT-declared ceasefire is always good news to the communist New People’s Army. Nearly seven months of such ceasefire gave the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines time and opportunity to recruit, extort, recover and expand. Encounters and ambushes from Kalamansig in Sultan Kudarat to Malibcong in Abra reflect an invigorated NPA. However, since the Armed Forces of the Philippines resumed military operations against the NPA, the latter has been pushed back. Now, a new ceasefire will take effect.