Communist rebels in northeast Mindanao have declared an 11-day ceasefire to pave the way for the release of four policemen they captured earlier this month in Surigao del Norte province.
However, Maria Malaya, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Northeast Mindanao Region, said the rebel truce, which came into effect Tuesday noon and is supposed to last until noon of August 2, “can only be effective when there is a corresponding formal declaration and an actual suspension of offensive military operations” by government forces.
The rebel declaration ordered all NPA units operating within Surigao del Norte and the Agusan del Norte towns of Kitcharao, Jabongga and Santiago, “to suspend all offensive operations.”
Earlier, the rebels said they are set to free “prisoners of war” Police Officer 3 Vice Calubag Concon, PO1s Rey O’niel Morales, Joen B. Zabala and Edito F. Roquino on Friday, July 25, as a “goodwill gesture” towards resumption of peace talks with the government.
The four were captured on July 10 by a rebel blocking force during a New People’s Army raid on the police station of Alegria town.
Malaya warned that any refusal by government forces to reciprocate the ceasefire “will mean the continuity of counter-offensive and active-defensive military actions of the NPA.”
Earlier, Major General Ricardo Visaya, commander of the Army's 4th infantry Division, rejected rebel overtures for a truce to pave the way for the policemen's release.
She ordered NPA units “concerned with the security of the area must report immediately to their higher command any and all developments in the field in order to help enable the NDFP-NEMR to make correct and timely appraisals and directives based on the situation.”
The rebel ceasefire declaration also ordered NPA units “to maintain their active-defense posture within the given timeframe of the ceasefire, and … not hesitate to defend its own forces and the masses within its area of responsibility.”
“It is ordered further that after the release of the four POWs, all NPA units must move to a more secure location to prepare themselves and the masses in the area against another wave of brutal attacks by enemy forces,” the statement added.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/91784/ndf-in-northeast-mindanao-declares-truce-to-pave-way-for-cops-release
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.