The Paghili-usa sa Paghidaet Negros yesterday called for a ceasefire not only between government forces and the New People's Army, but also among the rival communist rebel factions, in observance of the yuletide season.

"We firmly believe that the armed conflict should be resolved through dialogs and non-violent activities," PsPN official Delia Locsin said.

In the absence of any order for the suspension of military operations, there will be no let-up in tactical offensives against the NPA in the Western Visayas, Maj. Lyndon Sollesta, 3rd Infantry Division spokesman, said.

Last year, the government and the New People's Army observed Christmas truce.

As much as possible, we would like a ceasefire among government and rebel combatants, yuletide season or not, Locsin said.

Former Negros Occidental Board Member Andy Hagad, a member of the Peace Advocates of Negros, had earlier called for a holiday truce among rebels and government forces.

Within the third quarter this year, the military recorded six attacks of isolated Army outposts in central and southern Negros, aside from a series of assassinations of Army solders, RPA-ABB members and civilians tagged as military informers, perpetrated by rebel hitmen.

There were also the ambush-slay of nine soldiers, and the injuries to 20 others in Calinog, Ilog, and the attack on the 78th Infantry Battalion in Cebu last month, also carried out by the NPA as admitted by CPP spokesman Gregorio Rosal. In the past, the military noted, the CPP-NPA took advantage of the truce by re-organizing and consolidating their forces.

The 3ID has field units stationed in the islands of Panay, Negros, Cebu and Bohol.

Army chief Hermogenes Esperon earlier said he is not inclined to recommend a ceasefire this year. The RPA-ABB also went on active defensive mode, after four of its members were killed in Calatrava on Nov. 1 that was followed by an encounter between two rival communist rebel factions in Victorias City.*GPB

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