Palace rejects CPP 'justification' of ambush that killed 11

In spite of a Christmas ceasefire, Malacañang on Saturday rejected the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army’s claims that the ambush that killed 10 soldiers and a nine-year-old boy in Samar last Tuesday was a “legitimate act of war." Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said the CPP and NPA should try explaining its action not just to the public but to the grieving families of those who were killed. “Of course we disagree. They should be the ones to explain to the wives and children of the soldiers, and to the parents of the boy who died in the ambush. They should try telling them what they did was a legitimate act of war," Valte said in Filipino in an interview aired on government-run dzRB radio. The ambush occurred two days before the government and the CPP were to observe a 19-day Christmas ceasefire from Dec. 16 to Jan. 3. On Friday, the CPP tried to justify the ambush, saying it was a legitimate act of war, and that it came before the ceasefire took effect. [See story: CPP says Samar ambush legitimate act of war] “As far as the CPP, NPA, NDFP (National Democratic Front of the Philippines) and revolutionary forces are concerned, the Samar ambush… was a legitimate act of war, carried-out in self-defense in response to an active enemy offensive operation," the CPP said in a statement posted on its website Friday afternoon. But Valte said, “We take very strong exception to that. We certainly disagree. Where in the world can you go and justify the killing of a nine-year-old boy?" — LBG, GMANews.TV