AFP pulls out troops in Surigao del Sur town

From GMA News (Jul 30): AFP pulls out troops in Surigao del Sur town

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's unilateral ceasefire with the insurgents, has pulled out troops in San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, the site of previous skirmishes between government soldiers and communist rebels.

AFP Public Affairs Office chief Colonel Edgard Arevalo said Lieutenant General Eduardo Año, commanding general of the Philippine Army, reported the removal of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion from San Miguel, Surigao del Sur on orders of AFP chief General Ricardo Visaya.

"This 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...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 (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front)," Arevalo said in a statement.

In April 2015, two soldiers and a civilian were killed while another seven were injured in an ambush allegedly perpetrated by the NPA in Barangay Mahayag in San Miguel town. This was followed by series of firefights in September last year.

Militant group Kabataan partylist earlier said the ceasefire will only bring peace to people affected by alleged militarization if government troops will pull out of their schools and communities immediately.

Duterte, however, has threatened to lift the ceasefire declaration following the ambush government militiamen in Davao del Norte on July 28, killing one and wounding four others. He also set a deadline for the rebels to declare ceasefire, which lapsed at 5 p.m. Saturday. 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/575701/news/regions/afp-pulls-out-troops-in-surigao-del-sur-town