Philippine anti-government rebel group formally issued on Thursday ceasefire declaration in its four regional commands in central Philippines following the devastation brought by Typhoon Haiyan in those places.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Central Committee said in a statement that the unilateral declaration of truce will be in effect until Nov. 24.

But it said that the concerned units of the New People's Army ( NPA), the armed wing of the CPP, ceased offensive operations since Nov. 9, a day after Haiyan struck the country.

The ceasefire declaration covers Eastern Visayas, Panay, Central Visayas and Negros Island Commands, the Central Committee said.

Provincial commands of the NPA in Masbate, Palawan and Mindoro Islands were also covered by the truce, it said.

"Until the aforementioned expiration of this declaration, all NPA units and people's militias shall cease and desist from carrying out offensive military operations against the armed units and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other paramilitary and armed groups attached to the Philippine Government," the leftist rebel organization said.

With the truce, it said that all local and international relief organizations are assured of safe passage through and into the calamity-affected guerilla zones. Endi

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