Intensified ops vs. Reds to resume as soon as holiday truce lapses —AFP

From GMA News Online (Jan 7, 2020): Intensified ops vs. Reds to resume as soon as holiday truce lapses —AFP (By ANNA FELICIA BAJO)

Intensified combat operations against communist rebels would resume as soon as the holiday ceasefire agreement between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) lapses on January 8, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Tuesday.

"They can expect that combat operations shall resume with more intensity and focus as soon as the clock strikes 12 midnight of 08 Jan 2020 without the need for orders from the new AFP Chief Lieutenant General Felimon Santos, Jr.," AFP spokesman Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo said in a statement.

Arevalo emphasized that the military was not inclined to recommend any national level truce with the communist rebels unless the latter abandon their armed struggle.

"While the AFP gives primacy to peace process and will submit to the guidance of Commander-in-Chief, we are for localized peace talks given its success owing to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC)," Arevalo said.

He said the unilateral ceasefire was actually a loss for the government because of the hostilities recorded during the period of the truce.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/721321/intensified-ops-vs-reds-to-resume-as-soon-as-holiday-truce-lapses-afp/story/