BACOLOD CITY — The Philippine Army will be intensifying its operations against communist rebels in Negros Occidental.

Col. Michael Samson, Army's 303rd Infantry Brigade acting commander, said the military did not declare a ceasefire with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army during holidays to prevent the enemy from taking advantage of the situation.

He said that based on lessons from the past, NPA rebels take advantage of the holiday truce.

In previous years, he said, the CPP-NPA would continue its recruitment activities and even attack government forces whenever a ceasefire was declared by the government.

He added that f communist rebels want to spend time with their families in welcoming the New Year, then they can come home but should not carry firearms.

"But it's even better that they abandon going to the mountains so they can always be with their families. They can become productive persons and help their communities instead," he added.

Meanwhile, the Negros Occidental provincial government has directed all city and municipal disaster risk reduction and management offices to raise a blue alert status from 30 December 2022 to 2 January 2023 as a precaution for possible weather disturbance during the New Year celebration.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said all DRRMOs will be on a heightened alert level.

Blue alert status requires 50 percent of concerned personnel to be in their posts at any time.

In a memorandum, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, who is the acting governor until 3 January, said there should be continued monitoring and preparedness of all concerned agencies, offices and disaster councils.