Monday, August 1, 2016

AFP faithful to unilateral ceasefire despite NPA attacks

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 2): AFP faithful to unilateral ceasefire despite NPA attacks

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday denied claim by the New People's Army (NPA) that the military never honored the ceasefire declared by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during his first State of the Nations Address (SONA).

AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla on Monday said that despite unprovoked attacks by New People's Army combat units, the AFP remained faithful to unilateral ceasefire from beginning to end.

President Duterte declared a unilateral ceasefire during his first SONA on July 25 but subsequently lifted it on July 30 after the NPAs failed to declare their own version.

Padilla said the military was very supportive of the ceasefire, adding that planners worked overtime to craft guidelines on how to disengage combat units in the field shortly after Duterte's announcement.

He added AFP sincerity could not be doubted as this order was immediately promulgated to various units nationwide.

And yet despite this show of goodwill and sincerity from the government, rebel forces in Kapalong, Davao Del Norte attacked a returning militia patrol, killing one and wounding four others last July 27 and in July 28, NPA forces were at in again, attacking another home-bound Army patrol in Agusan Del Sur, fortunately causing no losses to government troops.

"And yet, despite these attacks, we never did conduct pursuit operations against them as we are hoping that the (unilateral) ceasefire will work," Padilla added.

And despite these setbacks, the AFP spokesperson was hopeful that a more lasting peace would come out from the scheduled Aug. 20 talks with the NPAs in Oslo, Norway.

Padilla was also hoping that the insurgents would not make any impossible demands which could bogged down the dialogues.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=909375

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