AFP to conduct ops in areas rife with reports of NPA illegal activities

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 6): AFP to conduct ops in areas rife with reports of NPA illegal activities

With President Rodrigo Duterte's termination of the ceasefire last Friday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) units can now conduct combat operations on areas where there are reports of extortion, harassment and laying of improvised explosive devices by the New People's Army (NPA).

This was disclosed by AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo Monday.

He added operations will be implemented immediately once these reports are immediately verified by military authorities.

Arevalo also dismissed NPA claims stating that the AFP was the first to violate the ceasefire, adding that military did not conduct combat operations against the rebels, but merely support operations on police personnel conducting law enforcement operations lawless bands.

And regarding the three soldiers, abducted in Surigao Del Norte and Sultan Kudarat last week, the military official assured the families that they will soon conduct rescue operations to free them from the clutches of the NPAs.

Efforts are still underway to determine their whereabouts, Arevalo added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=961406