The Philippines has declared a unilateral suspension of offensive military operations (SOMO) with communist rebels during the Christmas season,local media reported Wednesday.
Philippine Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in Wednesday 's briefing that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has approved the recommendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to have a cease-fire with communist rebels, Philippine news site Inquirer. net reported.
The cease-fire will run from 12:01 a.m. of Dec. 24 to 12 p.m. of Dec. 26 and from 12:01
a.m. of Dec. 31 to 12 p.m. of Jan. 1.
But Ermita said the government forces will continue to be on guard for possible attacks by
the rebels ahead of the 40th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines(CPP) on Dec. 26.