Rebels should stop targeting unarmed soldiers if they are interested in peace talks

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 2): Rebels should stop targeting unarmed soldiers if they are interested in peace talks

If the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) is really interested in pursuing peace talks with the government, their fighters should stop mounting attacks against unarmed soldiers and militiamen, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Friday.

"While the CPP-NPA-NDF is floating an idea of resuming peace talks with the government, their armed wing has continuously mounted senseless attacks against unarmed members of the security forces during the government declared unilateral suspension of offensive military operations (SOMO) during the Yuletide Season," said AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc.

He was referring to the case of 1st Lt. Ronald Bautista, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 2011, who was traveling on a civilian motorcycle with two military personnel when NPA fighters blocked their path and murdered them in cold blood at around 9:45 a.m. on Dec. 29, 2014 in Barangay Candinuyan village, Mabini, Compostela Valley.

Among the victims of the murderous attack were Pfc. Albert Amor and militiaman Renel Baluca.

Bautista and his men came from a hinterland village of Anitapan where his platoon was deployed for community outreach activities during the Yuletide Season.

He was enroute to Davao City where he was supposed to board a plane bound for his home province in Bohol.

"If they are indeed sincere in pursuing peace, they must stop committing crimes such as murdering off-duty soldiers," Cabunoc said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=721125