DND still supportive of gov't peace agenda despite NPA decision to lift unilateral ceasefire

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 1): DND still supportive of gov't peace agenda despite NPA decision to lift unilateral ceasefire

Despite the decision of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) to terminate its existing unilateral ceasefire, the Department of National Defense (DND) remains supportive of President Rodrigo Duterte's peace agenda.

"The CPP-NPA's decision to terminate the existing unilateral ceasefire will not deter the Department of National Defense (DND) from supporting President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's peace agenda," DND public affairs office chief Arsenio Andolong said.

He added that the DND will continue to enforce the government's unilateral ceasefire and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will not actively operate against the NPA while our ceasefire is in effect.

"However, government security forces will continue to maintain peace and order and run after lawless elements whoever and wherever they are," Andolong said.

"We emphasize that we do not recognize the NPA's claims to areas which they believe are under their control and our forces are ready to defend themselves when attacked," the DND official stressed.

Earlier, DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the decision of the NPA to lift the unilateral ceasefire effective, which will be in effect until 11:59 a.m. Feb. 10, will have no effect on the military.

"If the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army) will terminate or stop their unilateral ceasefire it is up to them. It will not affect the AFP, anyway despite their declared ceasefire they have not stopped extorting under the guise of their so-called revolutionary taxation, went on recruiting, burning buses and equipment, ambushing and kidnapping soldiers," he added.
Pending instructions from Duterte, Lorenzana said the DND will continue to enforce the government unilateral ceasefire.

"Our troops will not actively operate against the npa while our ceasefire is in effect. However, it will continue to maintain peace and order and run after lawless elements whoever they are. We do not recognize any areas under NPA control nor are they allowed to roam around with their firearms intimidating people," Lorenzana stressed.

“The August 28, 2016 unilateral declaration of interim ceasefire issued by the Central Committee of the CPP (CPP-CC) and the National Operations Command of the New People’s Army (NPA-NOC) is hereby terminated,” NPA spokesperson Ka Oris said in a statement.

“From today (Feb. 1, 2017) until the expiration of the ceasefire declaration, all commands and units of the NPA, including the people’s militia and self-defense corps, are tasked to take initiative and more vigorously carry out active defense in order to defend the people and revolutionary forces,” he added.

The rebels attribute the lifting of their unilateral ceasefire on the government’s failure to release all political prisoners under the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees as one of the reasons for the termination of the unilateral declaration of interim ceasefire.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=960059