In its message to the New People’s Army (NPA), the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Central Committee directed the NPA to mark its 51st anniversary by mobilizing its forces in a public health campaign to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The CPP Central Committee directed the NPA, especially its medical units, to carry out the campaign in coordination with revolutionary village health committees to help contain the disease, give special attention to the elderly and pregnant women, help care those who have been infected and promote personal hygiene and community sanitation.
CPP members in the cities were directed to carry out similar mass campaigns, while raising demands for mass testing and other public health measures.
It pointed out that the Filipino must take action and resist the repressive measures adopted by the Duterte regime to control the spread of COVID-19, and raise their call for his ouster, and make him answer for his criminal sabotage of the public health care system.
“Despite the gross incompetence of the Duterte government, the Filipino people can surely surmount the Covid-19 pandemic by acting as one, as they have achieved numerous victories in their revolutionary struggle for national and social liberation,” concluded the CPP.
The NPA is currently on ceasefire, in response to the call of the UN Secretary General for a global ceasefire. The CPP Central Committee issued a unilateral declaration ordering all NPA units to cease and desist from launching offensives during the period effective March 26 to April 15, while remaining vigilant in the face of AFP offensives and maneuvers.
Malacañang Palace welcomed the ceasefire declaration.
“The recommendation of Mr. Jose Ma. Sison, founding chairperson of the [CPP], to issue a declaration of a ceasefire addressed to the [NPA] purportedly in response to the call of the United Nations Secretary General for a global armistice, is a positive development,” said Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo in a statement on March 24.
The Philippine government declared a ceasfire that began on March 19 and will also end on April 15.
