Reunion square Filipino celebrate Christmas by being together and Rizal Park has become the traditional venue for spending the day for family. YUMMIE DINGDING@tribunephl_yumi

The days before Christmas for Filipinos were filled with hope after a declaration of cessation of hostilities through unilateral ceasefires from both the communist movement and the national government but it was dampened, literally, later on by a surprise typhoon called “Ursula.”

Nonetheless, President Rodrigo Duterte received a gift wrapped in gold from Filipinos as a survey showed 79 percent of respondents expressing satisfaction with the war on drugs

Malacañang hailed the results of the survey as presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said it should serve as a “wake-up call” against foreign groups and personalities who spread lies to discredit his campaign against illegal drugs.

The likelihood of the budget approval being deferred again as a result of pork barrel insertions that are subjected to a review by the President raised the possibility of the government again using a reenacted appropriations law at least for the first few days of next year.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said there would be no adverse effect if the national budget for 2020 is not signed into law before the year ends.

Cayetano made the assurance following the statement of Acting Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado that the 2020 budget is now scheduled to be signed by President Rodrigo Duterte by the first week of January.

On 23 December, a day after the announcement of reciprocal unilateral ceasefires between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), at least 23 individuals, including nine soldiers, were wounded in the series of explosions masterminded by the CPP’s armed wing New People’s Army (NPA) indicating the futility of calling for a new peace agreement.

Despite the explosions, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it will not recommend an extension of martial law in Mindanao.

A more effective way of halting attacks by the NPA, would be for the repatriation of founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison to the Philippines and the termination of his asylum status in The Netherlands, League of Parents of the Philippines said.

The group made this call during a condemnation rally in front of the Dutch Embassy in Makati City, as they called on its cooperation in the return of Sison.

Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, who was in the gathering, said the Dutch government should stop harboring Sison and let him face every rap filed against him.

Indicating his commitment to the attainment of self-determination of the Bangsamoro people, the President said he may consider Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to establish its own armed forces.

Mr. Duterte, speaking before agrarian reform beneficiaries in Cotabato City, said he would allow the region to have its own armed forces as long as they “kill terrorists.”

“When you are already evolved into something which is really an autonomous region and you have your own armed forces or police, I will agree to it,” the President vowed.

On Christmas eve, with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, Gen. Noel Clement, about to end his military career just a few days into 2020, the President ensured he will be choosing his successor from a list of at least five candidates for the post.

Clement, appointed as the country’s top soldier only last September, is set to revert to civilian life on 5 January when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.

According to Public Affairs Service chief BGen. Edgard Arevalo, the AFP Board of Generals is now drafting a shortlist of contenders which it then would forward to Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

The military board is composed by the chief of staff, who acts as its chairman, and the vice chief of staff, the deputy chief of staff and the Army, Air Force, and Navy commanders.

The five high-ranking officers most likely to make the pool of candidates for the next AFP chief are Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay; Northern Luzon command chief Lt. Gen. Ramiro Rey; Western Mindanao command chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana; Eastern Mindanao command chief Lt. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr.; and Western command chief Vice Adm. Rene Medina, bared Arevalo.

Traditionally, the chiefs of the Air Force and the Navy are considered for the position, but Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez and Vice Adm. Robert Empedrad are also nearing retirement.