MAY DAY Celebration! Communists Planning Attacks in Philippines

“All units of the NPA have observed the ceasefire and desisted from mounting any tactical offensives," the CPP statement said. "The party also commends NPA units for successfully defending themselves and the masses and thwarting the raids and treacherous attacks mounted by the AFP in their relentless counterinsurgency operations."

The party also said the rebels conducted public health campaign on COVID-19 during the ceasefire.

As the truce ends, the CPP ordered the NPA to immediately shift "from an active defense posture to an offensive posture."

“The NPA must always be ready to seize every opportunity to strike at the fascist troops of the AFP, PNP, the CAFGU and all armed groups attached to the reactionary state," it said. "The NPA must mount tactical offensives especially against the most notorious human rights violators and those who have subjected people to abuse. The NPA must target the isolated and weak units and detachments of the AFP and its armed auxiliaries."

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night said he is closing his doors to peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

This came after the Chief Executive slammed the communist rebels for a series attacks carried out by their armed wing, the NPA, against government troops last week, while the country struggles with the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 pandemic).

Duterte warned that he will declare martial law if the NPA will not desist from their attacks.

“It is a sad thing to know na yung mga sundalo ko pinagpapatay (soldiers being killed) while even doing the most honorable task of accompanying the government workers delivering money and food,” Duterte said in his speech in Malacanang. “I'm so sad about this development but there will always be time for reckoning.”