Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Military leaders laud Pres. Duterte's peace move; DND chief hopes for ceasefire call from Reds

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 26): Military leaders laud Pres. Duterte's peace move; DND chief hopes for ceasefire call from Reds

Department of National Defense (DND) Sec. Delfin Lorenzana has expressed hope the New People's Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front, will respond to the truce following President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of a unilateral ceasefire against communists.

In his first State of the Nation address on Monday, Pres. Duterte called for peace and put to a stop the long years of bloody clashes and skirmishes. The CPP-NPA-NDF has been waging an almost 50 year conflict with the government.

"We expect the CPP-NPA-NDF to reciprocate," Lorenzana said, as he stressed that troops on the field will comply with the ceasefire but will not put their guard down.

Meanwhile, ranking military officials lauded Pres. Duterte's call for peace with the rebel group through a unilateral ceasefire.

"We'll do our part in the quest of finding a permanent peaceful resolution of this conflict. While we stop the conduct of offensive military operations, the Army will continue to serve its mandate through all other activities to ensure the protection and safety of the people and contribute in community development as well assist in the government's fight against drug syndicates," Philippine Army commander Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ano said.

Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said the AFP "shares the President's magnanimity for national healing and unification."

"By offering the hands of peace, reconciliation and unity, we will be engendering lasting peace and sustained development," he said.

"The AFP wish the same, not only because your soldiers who seek that elusive peace the most have also paid first hand the cost of the conflicts the worst, but because the protracted war has left many children orphans and homeless. And this has to stop. And it has to begin somewhere. And the time is now," Arevalo said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=907328

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