AFP: Normal operations to continue pending formal orders from Duterte

From GMA News (Mar 12): AFP: Normal operations to continue pending formal orders from Duterte
While peace negotiations between the Philippine government and rebel forces are back on the table, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday said normal operations will continue pending formal orders from President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

"We will anxiously await the official message of our panel and the instructions of our commander-in-chief. Pending this, all military operations will continue and remain at current state," AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, said in a report on GMA's "24 Oras Weekend."

This comes after Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza said the fourth round of peace talks will resume in April, following backchannel talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF) panel.

"I am pleased to announce that the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army- National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF)... are now back on track again," he said.

According to AFP Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año, the military is ready to follow orders of the President. "You see, we are always prepared to follow the orders of our Commander-in-Chief," he said.

For his part, Labor Secretary Silvestre F. Bello III expressed hopes that both parties will be able to agree to sign a bilateral ceasefire agreement during negotiations. "Ibabalik na 'yung pag-uusap tungkol sa kapayapaan at pipilitin namin na magkakaroon na ng signed, bilateral ceasefire agreement," he said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/602918/news/nation/afp-normal-operations-to-continue-pending-formal-orders-from-duterte