Many NPA bands push for localized peace talks -- AFP

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 1): Many NPA bands push for localized peace talks -- AFP

Not all New People's Army (NPA) ranks are supportive of their top leadership's decision to cancel their existing ceasefire with government forces.

This was proven as various NPA groups in the group are pushing for a localized peace talks in their respective regions, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said Wednesday.

"We have heard the report from Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte who welcomes the expression of the NPA to have a localized peace talk in their area," he added.

"In Compostela Valley, we have received the report from Major General Rafael Valencia who said that members of the NPA are also opting for a localized peace talks. The members of the local government are the ones brokering these loalized peace talks," the AFP official disclosed,

Arevalo said the same is true in the Visayas as 8th Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Raul Farnacio said that rebels in his area-of-operation also signify their intention to go to a localized peace talks.

"This is now being arranged by the local government," he added

In Bondoc Peninsula, Arevalo the provincial board members are catering to this particular desire of the NPA to go to localized peace talks if they cannot attain success in the national level.

We would like to encourage and welcome all those who have expressed their intent to do peace talks even at the localized level in order for us to gain success in this particular area," he added.

The government was forced to cancel its ceasefire and peace talks with the NPA last Feb. 4 after the insurgent earlier announced that they are lifting their unilateral ceasefire effective 11:59 p.m. of Feb. 10.

In wake of that announcement, the rebels also conducted a series of unprovoked attacks against government and civilian targets, killing six unarmed soldiers and abducting three others in the process.

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