Key Philippine Military and Insurgency-Related Events: Negros rebels ‘eager to strike’ over abuses but will abide by ceasefire

Friday, December 23, 2016

Negros rebels ‘eager to strike’ over abuses but will abide by ceasefire - NPA commander

From InterAksyon (Dec 23): Negros rebels ‘eager to strike’ over abuses but will abide by ceasefire - NPA commander

Negros rebel leaders Juanito Magbanua of the New People's Army (right) and former priest Frank Fernandez of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines talk to journalists at a grassroots peace forum in Central Negrs. (photo by Nonoy Espina, InterAksyon.com)

Communist rebels on Negros are “eager” to carry out operations against government security forces but are abiding by their unilateral ceasefire despite military abuses in communities within their hinterland base areas, the commander of the New People’s Army on the island said.

Speaking to reporters Thursday at a grassroots peace forum in a mountain village ahead of the 49th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Ka Juanito Magbanua said were it not for the unilateral ceasefire declared by the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in August for the resumption of formal peace negotiations with the Duterte administration, “we would definitely be carrying out tactical operations.”

In fact, Magbanua said, “we had to postpone several operations because of the ceasefire declaration.”

The government also declared its own unilateral ceasefire but rebel formations in many regions of the country have reported continued violations by the military, from combat and intelligence operations disguised as civil-military or “peace and development” actions to the actual occupation of communities, including public facilities like schools, daycare and health centers, chapels, and village halls.

An NPA guerrilla with a dove pasted on his cheek mans a rebel checkpoint during a grassroots peace forum in Central Negros. (photo by Nonoy Espina, InterAksyon.com)

Magbanua said it has been no different in Negros where “we have received reports of widespread violations of the (government) unilateral ceasefire” all over the island.

In fact, Magbanua said, a week earlier, they had to move the venue of their peace forum after government troops “occupied” the village originally chosen as the venue and “occupied the chapel, the gym, barangay hall” and other facilities and conducted a “census” during which “they interrogated residents, asking who the leaders of mass organizations were and also who among their relatives have joined the NPA.”

“It’s been very, very difficult for the comrades because we are strictly observing our ceasefire and choose to take evasive maneuvers despite the dangers to ourselves, although the NPA is very eager to mount tactical operations because of the continuing military abuses,” he said.

He said just before the rebels declared their ceasefire, “we already had several targets for our operations but had to postpone these because we wish the peace talks to succeed, not for the CPP or the NPA or the NDFP but for the people.”