Army justifies Bayanihan

From the Visayan Daily Star (Aug 29): Army justifies Bayanihan
activities despite ceasefire

Army Col. Francisco Delfin justified Saturday the continued Bayanihan Team activities of soldiers in the Negros hinterlands, despite the announcement of an indefinite ceasefire between government forces and the communist rebels.

Delfin said with the announcement of an indefinite ceasefire between the Philippine government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front as a result of a breakthrough in peace negotiations, they will further enhance their Bayanihan activities to address more problems in the countryside, in coordination with local government units.

“If they (NPA) want to help, it will be most welcomed,” Delfin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander who supervises the internal peace and security operations of Negros Island, said.

This will further strengthen our effort to help those in the hinterlands, he added.

The CPP issued a statement Friday criticizing the AFP for allegedly "maintaining their presence and continuing to make aggressive moves in and around the areas of operations of the NPA, including Negros Occidental, which it claimed form part of the territories of the people's democratic government."

"There have been persistent reports of continuing presence of armed operating troops of the AFP in barangay centers, occupying barangay halls, community schools and daycare centers, senior citizen centers and other civilian structures. They continue to set up detachments or physical bases in the center of civilian population," the CPP said.

Delfin clarified that only combat operations are being prohibited. The Bayanihan squads and teams will continue their presence in barangays to help the populace, he stressed.

Chief Supt. Renato Gumban, Negros Island Region police director, said Friday that they are now in active defense mode, as they will not operate against identified areas of the CPP-NPA.

But Gumban said they will not spare anybody in their law enforcement campaign, including the serving of arrest warrants to any NPA members, who are facing charges in court.

“It was not mentioned that they are exempted from law enforcement operations. If they have existing cases and are sighted, they will surely be arrested. What is being prevented is the occurrence of an encounter,” he stressed.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2016/August/29/topstory7.htm