The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is not bothered by the two-day ceasefire declared by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing New People's Army (NPA), AFP spokesperson Medel Aguillar said on Sunday, Dec. 24.

“Buti naman at nag-declare sila, pero hindi na namin pinapansin iyan kasi sa tingin namin it is an empty statement actually. Una, halos durog na rin sila, pero meron pa rin natitira,” he said in an interview during DZRH Stories: Pinoy Documentaries.

Col. Medel Aguilar, Spokesperson, AFP, sa dineklang ceasefire ng CPP-NPA: Hindi na namin pinapansin 'yan. Kasi sa paningin namin, it's an empty statement actually. #DZRHStories#SamaSamaTayoPilipino

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— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) December 24, 2023

Aguillar estimated that there are only over 1,000 CPP-NPA fighters who are on the run remaining.

The AFP spokesperson also said that they pay no attention to the ceasefire declaration since the CPP-NPA is weakening, with their leadership crumbling down.

“Wala na halos leadership, durog na rin. May leadership vacuum, we don’t even know kung yung natitira pa nilang leader ay may control pa sa ibaba,” Aguillar added.

The AFP spokesperson believes that the CPP-NPA is “totally ineffective”, and that the halt in the guerrilla offensives was just mere a stunt to let the public know that they are still existing.

“Itong declaration na ginagawa nila is just to say na ‘nandyan pa kami’. It’s just for a show. Infact, wala namang saysay na,” he underscored.

CPP-NPA said the declaration would allow the peasant masses and NPA units to commemorate CPP’s 55th anniversary.

This is also the communist group's solidarity with the traditional Christmas celebration.