Statement on Sison’s reaction to the declaration of a unilateral ceasefire due to COVID-19:

 Mr. Sison’s recent statement on the declaration of a unilateral ceasefire by the government to give way to the implementation of the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine reflects his anti-poor, anti-people, anti-Filipino sentiments, and is the height of callousness and narrow-mindedness.
We all know that we are facing a worldwide pandemic, and we, as a nation, as well as nations all over the world, are doing all we can to implement measures to stem the spread of the virus in our communities. This includes the declaration of a ceasefire which will allow our defenders to focus on helping our communities, especially those in need and most vulnerable to the pandemic such as the poverty stricken, masses, sick and elderly--the very same people whose interests he supposedly claims to be fighting for.

Sison’s attitude towards this ceasefire only means that he does not care about the lives of our people and survival of the Filipino nation, which includes members of the CTG who might already be or will be infected with COVID-19. His senseless pronouncements are exposing his true intention, which is to derail or sabotage at all cost whatever is good for the well-being and future of our people in order to promote his personal interests.

The position of the President and the government is clear: we will implement the ceasefire whether the other side reciprocates or not. This should serve as a reminder and warning to Mr. Sison--his actions and those of the CTG in the coming days and weeks will be judged by succeeding generations and recorded in the pages of Philippine history.

Arsenio R. Andolong
Spokesperson
Department of National Defense
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