MALACAÑANG on Wednesday welcomed the New People’s Army (NPA) declaration of a cease-fire. The President’s spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, said the declaration was an assurance that the public, particularly those in rural areas, would be safe come Christmas time. “We welcome the CPP-NPA’s reciprocal cease-fire declaration and consider this as an assurance of peace for the Filipino people, particularly those in rural communities, in line with the true spirit of Christmas,” Bunye said. The communist guerrillas on Tuesday declared a 10-day Christmas cease-fire beginning today until January 5 to allow Filipinos to observe the holidays peacefully and in commemoration of its 36th founding anniversary on December 26. Full Story