MANILA, Philippines -- Communist rebels declared an indefinite ceasefire in typhoon-ravaged areas of the Philippines and pledged humanitarian aid Monday, after the military suspended its counterinsurgency operations.

A day after typhoon “Mina” (international codename: Mitag) slammed into the northeastern corner of the country, killing at least eight people, Communist Party of the Philippines spokesman Gregorio Rosal said in a statement it was normal for the party's military arm to observe a unilateral cease-fire and offer assistance.

Armed forces chief General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. announced Saturday that the military has suspended offensive operations against guerrillas in the northern Philippines to free up soldiers responding to the disaster.

The military later extended the ceasefire to the Visayas -- or up to two-thirds of the sprawling archipelago -- because of a re-entering storm.

Rosal said the rebel ceasefire "was a matter of policy, whether or not the government and its armed forces issue a similar declaration."

The 7,000-strong rebels have been fighting for a Marxist-led state for 39 years, and withdrew from peace talks in 2004.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the military to end the insurgency by the time she ends her term in 2010.