MANILA/ZAMBOANGA CITY, 16 December 2004 — The government yesterday declared a unilateral 21-day Christmas cease-fire with communist rebels even as guerrillas launched a series of attacks in various parts of the country since Tuesday.

The latest attack by the rebel New People’s Army (NPA) was on a town hall in the northern province of Nueva Ecija, just after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo made the announcement, police said.

No details were immediately available. Police said the fighting was still raging.

“I would like to announce a unilateral cease-fire by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the war against the NPAs starting tomorrow (Dec. 16), the beginning of the Christmas season,” said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said in her speech at the awarding of outstanding overseas Filipinos yesterday night.

Arroyo said she was declaring the cease-fire to show her administration’s commitment to peace, especially in the Christmas season.

She said the truce will last until Jan. 5 but it should not stop the military from conducting defensive patrols and pursuit operations in case of a rebel attack.

The military says the communist rebels are gaining strength, expanding their influence in communities in 69 out of 79 provinces nationwide.

Guerrillas also attacked early yesterday a government construction site in Surigao del Sur province in northeast Mindanao and torched bulldozers and other equipment in what the military called an extortion attempt.

Some 20 guerrillas also tried to blow up one bulldozer near the Sian Bridge in San Roque village in the outskirts of Bislig City, but the explosive failed to detonate.

“There were no reports of civilian casualties and soldiers were sent to the area to pursue the insurgents,” Maj. Gen. Samuel Bagasin, commander of the army’s 4th Infantry Division, said.

He said the NPA forces attacked after it failed to extort money from the owners of the Concepcion Basic Builders, which was contracted to build roads and bridges in the province. “The NPA is embarking on a massive extortion and kidnapping-for-ransom activities to finance their violent activities and feed their hungry fighters,” Bagasin said.

Last week, guerillas seized 14 people working on government infrastructure projects in the town of Talaingod in Davao del Norte province, but freed them a day later before troops could rescue the hostages.

On Tuesday, suspected NPA rebels planted a bomb at a construction site for a dam in central province of Capiz, damaging property but injuring no one. A second bomb the rebels planted under a truck was recovered and safely detonated, police said.

On Monday, NPA hitmen killed 35-year-old Eke Narra in his home in the central city of Cebu, said troops who responded to an emergency call.

Guerrillas also shot and killed another man, 42-year-old Nasro Imbay, while he was on his way home in the volatile southern province of North Cotabato over the weekend.

The military said NPA units were responsible for both attacks, but the motive was unclear.

The 8,000-strong NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which has been waging a rebellion since 1969.

Last year, the government declared a 27-day truce, which ended in early January. The rebels reciprocated the move.

But while the truce is in effect, Abu said government was prepared to thwart any major attacks as the communist party marks its 36th anniversary on December 26.

“As usual, our troops are on alert,” Abu said.

“We are taking precautions,” Metro Manila Police Director Avelino Razon Jr. said in a separate interview with reporters.

Razon noted that the police and the military remain on high alert in the wake of a bomb attack in General Santos City last Sunday that killed over a dozen people.

There was no word yet from the NPA has yet to announce if it will also declare a cease-fire. Communist Part of the Philippines (CPP) spokesman Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal said earlier that the rebels were still “waiting for an official announcement” on whether they would also declare a truce.

“As soon as there is a decision, we will let the public know,” he said.

Rosal dismissed as “propaganda” a warning from the military of increased NPA offensives.

“If ever there is an offensive, it is not because we are celebrating our anniversary,” he said.

Rosal said the CPP would mark its anniversary with meetings between its leaders and dialogues with the media.