THE Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Wednesday called off a truce with the government two weeks ahead of schedule, raising concerns about the future of peace talks.

The Communist Party of the Philippines blamed the government for their action but Malacañang said the group just wanted an excuse to cut the ceasefire short.

A CPP statement said the truce, originally scheduled to run from December 20 to January 15, ended at noon Wednesday because it believed the government only wanted a truce to remain in place until then.

“The [communist New People’s Army or NPA] and the people’s militias should immediately assume an offensive posture and confront and frustrate the enemy campaigns of suppression,” the statement said.

Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that the CPP, NPA and the National Democratic Front (NDF) always find excuses to delay peace negotiations.

“[The] CPP-NPA-NDF has always been making excuses. The first excuse was they wanted the number of their political consultants freed. We said we agreed on a JASIG [Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees] list, they refused to. Their JASIG list was corrupted and now they’re coming up with other stumbling blocks to peace,” he said.

“It’s unfortunate that the CPP-NPA-NDF would change its mind so soon after they declared a statement calling for a ceasefire. We know that ceasefire would be good for the rebels because it’s an opportunity for the CPP-NPA-NDF rebels to come down from the mountains and to be with their family. By doing so, they have cut short the time the rebels can spend with their families. It is unfortunate,” he added.

Lacierda said that the government should not be blamed since it has honored the ceasefire.

“We remain committed to pursuing peace in all fronts. We have seen that. We have proven our sincerity with the MILF. We are prepared to seek peace with CPP-NPA-NDF. That shows the sincerity of this government that we want peace and it’s the burden of CPP-NPA-NDF to show that it also genuinely seeks peace,” he added.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), however, said that it will abide with the ceasefire agreement.

Military spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. on Wednesday said the AFP operational directive readjusted or extended by 12 days the military’s declared 18-day unilateral ceasefire against the NPA, the armed wing of the CPP-NDF from midnight of December 16 up to 1 a.m. of January 3.

“The AFP remains firms in its commitment to the cause of peace and steadfast in the fulfillment of its constitutional mandate as protector of the people and the state,” he said.

 With reports From Catherine Valente and William B. Depasupil