AFP chief challenges Reds to a debate

From ABS-CBN (Dec 23): AFP chief challenges Reds to a debate

Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista challenged the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to a public debate to find out the "real moron."

This, after the communists tagged as "moronic" an earlier statement of Bautista that they should have declared a ceasefire that "lasts forever."

Last Wednesday, the CPP said it would declare a Christmas ceasefire that would cover Dec. 24, 25, 26, 31, Jan. 1 and 2. Last year, the rebels’ truce was from Dec. 20 to Jan. 15.

For its part, the government announced a ceasefire or Suspension of Offensive Military Operation (SOMO) from Dec. 21 up to Jan. 15. The government truce is shorter compared to last year, which started Dec. 16 and lasted up to Jan. 15.

"General Bautista said if they (CPP) want, let’s have a public debate to determine who the real moron is. They should answer why they do not want a prolonged ceasefire or prolonged cessation of hostilities," AFP spokesman Maj. Gen. Domingo Tutaan said.

He said Bautista is not offended by the term used by the Reds.

"He (Bautista) is concerned because this just goes to show that the CPP-NPA-NDF is not really sincere in having a just a lasting peace," Tutaan said.

Bautista was the first to push the idea of the military’s internal peace and security plan called Bayanihan.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/12/23/13/afp-chief-challenges-reds-debate