Army brigade vows to respect bilateral truce

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 5): Army brigade vows to respect bilateral truce  

Soldiers of the 701st Infantry Brigade (IB) based in Mati City, Davao Oriental will respect a bilateral ceasefire signed by both the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

In an interview Wednesday, Col. Reuben Basiao, 701st IB commander, said that if both parties will sign a bilateral ceasefire agreement in this round of peace talks, he will suspend the combat operations of his troops.

It will be suspended once we get the order from President Rodrigo Duterte, he added.

“It is clear from the statement of the President that what he expects from the fourth round of talks (is a signed) bilateral ceasefire (agreement), which we look forward to,” he said.

For now, Basiao said they maintain an offensive position to protect communities from harassment allegedly perpetrated by the New People's Army (NPA) and other armed groups within their area of jurisdiction.

“Some people asked why the soldiers still have combat operations even if the fourth round of peace talks is still ongoing? Well, we just follow the order of our national government and our President also stressed that there will be no unilateral ceasefire from the government side,” Basiao said.

He said the NPA released a statement to have a unilateral ceasefire before the end of March, but did not pursue it since the government did not respond.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=977799