Army suspends operations against NPAs

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jul 27): Army suspends  operations  against NPAs

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato  -- The Philippine  Army  here  has  suspended  offensive  military operations against the CPP-NPA-NDF,  a  military  official here  confirmed.

"In accordance with President  Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of  a ceasefire with the  CPP-NPA-NDF,  we have suspended  offensive  military operations against the rebel  group," Lt. Col.  Benjamin Leander,  commanding officer of the  27th  Infantry  Battalion, said in a radio interview on Wednesday.

Lt. Col. Leander, however,  clarified that this  does not mean withdrawing  their presence in the  communities.

"We remain vigilant inasmuch as  maintaining  security  remains  our prime responsibility," he said. "We are only prohibited  from offensive  actions.

If attacked, he emphasized, the Philippine Army will have to defend  themselves.

Also, he added,  the Army will  sustain  the Peace and Development Outreach  Programs  in their  areas  of responsibility.

"So far, we have  not monitored  anything that  would cause concern," he said.

In another  interview,  Leander  revealed that  5 NPA members  surrendered to them  this month.

27th IB's  area of  responsibility covers the entire  South Cotabato, some parts of  Sarangani province and Lutayan town in Sultan Kudarat. 

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1611469597614/army-suspends-operations-against-npas