AFP breaks SOMO anew in NCotabato offensive vs NPA

From the CPP Website (Jan 12): AFP breaks SOMO anew in NCotabato offensive vs NPA

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today denounced the Aquino regime and its Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for violating the temporary synchronized ceasefire by carrying out a military offensive yesterday against the New Poeple’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Malire, Antipas, North Cotabato.

Initial reports indicate that elements of the Philippine Army’s Special Forces and troops of the 602nd Brigade initiated combat operations after getting wind of the presence of an NPA unit in the area, said the CPP. The AFP offensive resulted in an armed encounter with the local NPA unit. “The AFP offensive operation is another act of contempt against the temporary synchronized ceasefire agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP),” pointed out the CPP. The synchronized ceasefire agreement was forged in a meeting of special representatives of the Aquino regime and the NDFP last December 17-18 in The Netherlands.

The agreement was witnessed by Ambassador Ture Lundh of the Royal Norwegian Government, which serves as third-party facilitator of the NDFP-GPH peace negotiations. The synchronized ceasefire covers the period December 20, 2012 to January 15, 2013. “Over the past three weeks since December 20, the Aquino regime has launched widespread offensives and deployment of troops, reducing the synchronized ceasefire agreement to a meaningless piece of paper,” said the CPP.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/afp-breaks-somo-anew-in-ncotabato-offensive-vs-npa