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
"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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