Despite the unprovoked attack on military units in Surigao
Del Sur province Wednesday despite the Yuletide truce, the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) announced that it will still comply with the suspension of
military operations (SOMO) declared by President Benigno S. Aquino III.
"On our part, we assure the public that the AFP
continues to abide by the SOMO declared by His Excellency President Benigno
Aquino III against the NPA rebels which began 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 23, 2015 and
will end 11:59 p.m. of January 3, 2016," AFP public affairs office chief
Col. Noel Detoyato said.
The New People's Army (NPA) attack took place around 9:30
a.m. just hours from the unilateral ceasefire declared by the Communist Party
of the Philippines (CPP) took effect.
"Reports from our units there revealed that NPA
bandits, under Brando Juagpao alias 'Rodel,' fired at Army troops stationed at
the outskirts of Barangay Bitaugan, San Miguel, Surigao Del Sur. The Army
troops belonging to the 2nd Special Forces Battalion, Philippine Army are
stationed in the said area to assist the local government of San Miguel
municipality in facilitating the delivery of development programs and services
in the community," Detoyato said.
Troops managed to repel the attack and forced the NPA to disengage.
In the pursuit operations, another firefight ensued near the
boundary of Agusan Del Sur and Surigao del Sur a few hours later, also with a
group of NPAs.
"These acts by the NPAs are in gross violation of the
CPP’s self-declared unilateral ceasefire which took effect midnight of December
23 and will end midnight of January 3, 2016," he added.
He said the attack is an "undeniable proof" that
the NPAs, despite the declaration of ceasefire by the CPP, will
"continuously and deliberately" conduct harassment and atrocities
against troops.
"It is also proof that the NPA is insincere with their
own wish for peace for the Filipino this Yuletide season," Detoyato said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=841064
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