Reds violate Yuletide truce for 2nd time

From the Manila Standard Today (Dec 18): Reds violate Yuletide truce for 2nd time

The communist New People’s Army have allegedly violated a Christmas truce after suspected communist rebels ambushed soldiers, resulting in the death of a trooper and injury to several others, in Miag-ao, Iloilo on Monday morning, according to military chief Gen. Jessie Dellosa. Citing a report from 3rd Infantry Division, Dellosa said the ambush occurred around 10:40 a.m. in Sitio Anoy, Barangay Cabalaunan in Miagao town. “While we’re strictly observing the unilaterally declared Suspension of Offensive Military Operations (SOMO) against the NPA, they were taking advantage of it,” Dellosa said.

Col. Arnold Quiapo, commander of the 301st Infantry Brigade, also condemned the ambush and ordered all units under his command to be extra vigilant despite the suspension of military operations that the government announced on Saturday. “The soldiers, aside from doing peace and development works, were conducting defensive security patrol after receiving reports of a planned harassment by NPA rebels on a nearby Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit detachment whose primary function is to protect nearby communities, when thy were ambushed, ” Quiapo said.

On December 15, the government declared a unilateral cease-fire for the period of Dec. 16 to January 3, 2013. Although the communist rebels had ordered a localized truce to allow relief operations in typhoon-stricken areas in Mindanao, the NPA and the Communist Party of the Philippines have yet to announce a nationwide ceasefire. But military spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said the Reds have also violated the ceasefire it announced in Mindanao after rebels tried but failed to kill a soldier of the 60th Infantry Battalion last week in Barangay Sto. Niño in Talaingod, Davao del Norte. The military said the communist rebels also tried to abduct the soldier’s two children, a charge the rebels denied.

Despite the second truce violation, Army spokesman Maj. Harold Cabunoc said Army units were reminded to strictly observe the government ceasefire. “I hope the NPA will realize that this is a golden opportunity for everyone not only for the Army soldiers but also their armed members, to celebrate Christmas in peace and harmony with their families,” Cabunoc added. Based on the Army directive and policy guidelines, the SOMO will only cover deliberate offensive operations against the armed communist rebels and does not prohibit military activities aimed at supporting the government and its agencies in undertaking development and humanitarian assistance programs.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2012/12/18/reds-violate-yuletide-truce-for-2nd-time/