Military accuses NPA of violating own truce

From the Manila Standard Today (Dec 20): Military accuses NPA of violating own truce

The military on Wednesday accused the New People’s Army of violating its own declared ceasefire for the second straight occasion, as it claimed that the Communist Party of the Philippines’s armed partisans killed a militiaman in Agusan del Sur. Col. Ronald Albano, commander of the 402nd Infantry Brigade, said it was also the second violation of the NPA since the government implemented a nationwide unilateral Suspension of Military Offensives OR SOMO.

The reported violations occurred even as the National Democratic Front, the political arm of the CPP, and a special panel of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) led by Akbayan Representative Ronald Llamas met in The Hague led by Akbayan representative met in the Hague for possible resumption of peace talks.

The CPP and its armed wing, the NPA, earlier declared a 27-day ceasefire, following the government’s declaration of a unilateral 18-day ceasefire in deference to the Yuletide season. “They agreed to recommend to their respective principals the holding of a nationwide ceasefire from midnight of 20 December 2012 to midnight of 15 January 2013. The ceasefire additionally gives due consideration to the relief and rehabilitation of the victims and communities devastated by super typhoon Pablo,” Luis Jalandoni, chief peace negotiator of the National Democratic Front-Philippines said. He said the scope of the ceasefire is nationwide, which means the almost a month of ceasefire declared earlier by the NDF-Mindanao in some typhoon-stricken areas in Mindanao would be extended until Jan. 15.

The military has declared a Suspension of Military Operations from Dec. 16 to Jan. 3. Military spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said they welcomed the rebels’ ceasefire but all military units in the area were instructed to remain vigilant against NPA attacks. Albano, meanwhile, identified the victim as Luis G. Dejado, 19, a member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary or CAA, and resident of Km 41, Barangay Binacalan, San Luis, Agusan del Sur. “Dejado was unarmed when mercilessly shot by the NPAs in different parts of his body that caused his instantaneous death,” said Albano, who added that Dejado was shot dead by members of the Guerilla Front 88 of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee in Sitio Bagnot, Barangay Lydia, La Paz, Agusan del.

Last week, communist rebels attempted to kill a soldier in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, and on Monday, NPA rebels ambushed a group of soldiers that resulted in the killing of one in Iloilo.
Meanwhile, Jalandoni reportedly met with Ronald Llamas of the pro-administration partylist Akabayan in The Hague on Dec. 17-18 to discuss the possible resumption of peace talks. Llamas is President Benigno Aquino’s political adviser.

Meanwhile, Jalandoni said in a statement that Llamas led a group of “special representatives” of the GPH in a meeting with the NDF that was hosted and facilitated by the Royal Norwegian Government. Llamas was accompanied by GPH Negotiating Panel Chairman Alexander Padilla., Efren Moncupa, GPH Panel Member; Undersecretary Chito Gascon and Director Maria Carla Munsayac-Villarta, GPH Panel Secretariat head. With Jalandoni were Jose Maria Sison, founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines; Fidel Agcaoili and Coni Ledesma, NDFP Panel Members. They were assisted by Vicente Ladlad, Political Consultant; Edre U. Olalia, Legal Consultant; Ruth de Leon, NDFP Panel Secretariat Head; and Rosario Agcaoili, staff. The Norwegian government was represented by Ambassador Ture Lundh.

The peace talks between the government and the NDF have been stalled since February 2011. Jalandoni said the meeting had reached a starting point for a possible resumption of peace talks. “The Special Representatives agreed to carry on the discussions on national unity and just peace; further upholding national independence, democracy and human rights; committee of national unity, peace and development; agrarian reform, rural development and national industrialization; and truce,” he said.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2012/12/20/military-accuses-npa-of-violating-own-truce/