Military says NPA violated own ceasefire declaration

From the Manila Times (Dec 19): Military says NPA violated own ceasefire declaration

THE Maoist New People’s Army (NPA) continues to operate in super typhoon Yolanda-devastated areas in violation of its earlier declaration of a unilateral ceasefire as it engaged government forces anew in two separate encounters that left one rebel dead.

Capt. Amado Gutierrez, spokesman, Eight Infantry Division (8ID) based in Catbalogan, Samar, on Tuesday said the latest encounter between troops of the 87th Infantry Battalion (87IB) and a band of rebels took place in Barangay Santo Niño, Motiong, Samar province.

Reports reaching Camp Aguinaldo showed that the government troops were tracking the NPAs at Barangay Bay-ang, San Jorge, Samar province when they received a report from a concerned civilian that the rebels were hiding just some six kilometers away in Barangay Santo Niño.

Gutierrez said a five-minute firefight ensued until the NPAs withdrew, leaving behind an Armalite rifle and traces of blood indicating casualties on their side. There was no casualty on the government side.

On the same day, he added, two NPAs also voluntarily surrendered bringing along with them their service firearms.

He identified the two as Roberto Abunaler and Jeffrey Pajarito Delfin.

http://manilatimes.net/military-says-npa-violated-own-ceasefire-declaration/61827/