The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ordered a pullout
of its elite forces from combat operations after the deadline imposed by
President Rodrigo Duterte for the Communist Party of the Philippines-New
People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) to declare its own
ceasefire at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.
According to AFP Public Affairs Chief Col. Edgard Arevalo
that Lieutenant General Eduardo Año, the Commanding General of the Philippine
Army has completed the pullout of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion from San
Miguel, Surigao del Sur on orders of General Ricardo Visaya, the AFP Chief of
Staff.
Arevalo said that recent movement of Army elite units,
another company of Scout Rangers, and other infantry units in pulling out from
the area of combat operations of the 4th Infantry Division under the Command of
MGen Banjamin Madrigal manifests the AFP's resolve to comply with the directive
of the President to step back from the operational area where there are likely
armed engagement between government security forces and members of the
CPP-NPA-NDF.
He said the recent movements by AFP combat units away from
conflict areas happen even at the wake of a fresh attack by avowed NPA units on
CAFGU units that were also pulling out from forward deployment in Brgy.
Gupitan, Kapalong, Davao
The AFP firmly believes on the primacy of peace as the road
to sustainable development and enduring prosperity for our countrymen, Arevalo
noted.
He added the AFP will not renege on its commitment to the
CIC that it will be a willing instrument of security and stability.
"That it will be glad to set aside ideological
differences, to partner, and to cooperate with any entities or groups in order
to engender peace and development for the people it sworn to protect and defend,"
Arevalo said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=908960
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