Ekip
13 February 2017•Update: 13 February 2017
By Roy Ramos
Zamboanga City, Philippines
Communist rebels late Sunday declared a unilateral cease-fire in earthquake ravaged areas of the Philippines to allow the government to deliver aid to victims.
The communist New People’s Army-North Eastern Mindanao Region (NPA-NEMR) said in a statement that the cease-fire, which began Saturday and will end at 11:55 p.m. (1555GMT) Feb. 20, covers areas held by the NPA Front 16 in Surigao del Norte and the municipalities of Cabadbaran, Tubay, Jabonga and Santiago in Agusan del Norte.
"This ceasefire is being declared to give the Red fighters of the NPA in Front 16, all government agencies, including the police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and non-government organizations, the opportunity to inspect the areas affected, especially the mountain areas, for damages resulting from the earthquake," spokesperson Ariel Montero said in the statement.
”Above all, this declaration of ceasefire is to enable the delivery of immediate aid to the masses and for them to be given assistance towards the rehabilitation of their damaged properties and livelihood,” he added.
Communist rebels hope state forces would also declare a temporary truce.
The military earlier appealed to the NPA to spare Surigao del Norte from attacks and skirmishes.
Surigao City has been placed under a state of calamity as the death toll has risen to eight from the magnitude-6.7 earthquake that hit late Friday and injured 120 others.
President Rodrigo Duterte has allocated 2 billion pesos ($40 million) for relief efforts.
