The decision not to declare a suspension of military operations (SOMO) with the members of the New People’s Army over the Christmas holidays stays. Our defenders would not stand down as there has been call on the other side to launch offensives against state forces.

The CPP-NPA is notorious for conducting treacherous attacks even when there was unilateral ceasefire in the past during which we have lost scores of our brave defenders. Declaring a SOMO now is not to the nation’s best interest as it would only expose our defenders to enemy attacks and embolden them to commit more atrocities, especially during their anniversary.

However, we do not discount possibilities that there may be circumstances that may arise for government to reconsider its present position.