MANILA (UPDATED) — The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) will not seek a ceasefire with state forces this holiday season following the death of its founder, Jose Maria Sison.

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In a statement from the CPP information bureau, the CPP Central Committee said there will be no ceasefire during the holidays, including the CPP 54th anniversary on December 26, amid mourning over the passing of Ka Joma.

"There is absolutely no reason to declare a ceasefire to mark the holidays
and the upcoming 54th Party anniversary," the communist group said, adding that armed troops continue to be deployed in areas where there are mining operations, expansion of plantations, foreign-funded infrastructure projects including dams and roads, and other big business operations that are being opposed by local communities.

The CPP said its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA), has been authorized to launch tactical offensives against government forces.

"The NPA must demonstrate in a concentrated form the people's outrage
against the AFP and political repression, socioeconomic oppression and
national treachery under the US-Marcos regime, and strengthen their
determination to fight back against state terrorism and carry forward their
revolutionary struggles," the CPP said.

The conflict between the CPP-NPA and the Philippine government has been ongoing for over 5 decades now.

It is considered one of the longest insurgencies in the world.

CPP Chief Information Officer Marco Valbuena earlier said CPP founder Sison died at 8:40 p.m. on Friday (Philippine time) in The Netherlands, where he had lived in self-imposed exile. Cause of death was not specified.

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"The greatest Filipino of the past century bereaved us peacefully last night," Valbuena said of Sison, who established the CPP in December 1968.

The Department of National Defense (DND) said the death of Sison is a "symbol of the crumbling hierarchy of the CPP-NPA-NDF."

It called on the communist fighters "to turn their backs on the violent and false ideology" of the revolutionary organization.

"A new era without Jose Maria Sison dawns for the Philippines, and we will all be the better for it. The greatest stumbling block of peace for the Philippines is gone; let us now give peace a chance," the DND said in a statement.

In 2019, former President Rodrigo Duterte terminated all peace negotiations with the communist rebels and instead created a task force in a bid to quash the insurgency.

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Before leaving his office, Duterte said it is up to the next president whether the government will pursue another round of peace talks with the CPP.

[BOLD] SISON'S REMAINS TO BE CREMATED

Meanwhile, the CPP said Sison's remains will be cremated in the Netherlands on Dec. 27.

The cremation will take place at the Crematorium Daelwijck in Utrecht, 12 days after Sison died on December 16 at the age of 83.

Sison had lived in self-exile in Europe since peace talks with the government collapsed in 1987.

A public vigil for Sison will be held at Barbara Ulitvaartverzorging Utrecht until Dec. 22. The wake will be closed to the public from Dec. 24 to 26.

Dec. 23 will be a “day of tributes” to Sison from international guests, comrades, and representatives of political parties and organizations. Guests are encouraged to bring red flowers.

In a message to ABS-CBN News, Valbuena said there were no discussions yet on bringing Sison’s ashes to the Philippines.

—with reports from Agence France-Presse and Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News

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