Rody wants CPP to explain ambush on Davao troops

LUCENA CITY, Philippines – President Duterte yesterday threatened to lift the truce he declared with communist rebels following last Wednesday’s attack by New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in Davao del Norte that left one militiaman dead and four others wounded.

Duterte said the Communist Party of the Philippines should explain why its armed wing staged the ambush, which happened three days after he declared the unilateral ceasefire.

“I am issuing a warning to the communists. I called one of the lawmakers of the Left and (government chief negotiator Silvestre) Bebot (Bello). I told their congressman: what is this? Are we into this truce or are we not?” the President told soldiers and policemen here.

“I told them: give me an answer by tonight because if tomorrow, there is no answer, I will lift it (ceasefire) and we return to animosity,” he added.

The President did not identify the lawmaker he spoke with.

Duterte said communist rebels should just forget the ceasefire if they kill even a single soldier or militiaman.

“If we commit mistakes, we punish our men and women in the service. I expect the same and demand an answer as to who was at fault and they should be put under disciplinary action. Otherwise, we did not talk about anything. That is my deal,” he added.  

Duterte declared the unilateral truce with the communists during his first State of the Nation Address last Monday.

He said the skirmishes between government forces and the insurgents should stop because they are “getting bloodier by the day.”

The President also called on communist guerrillas “to respond accordingly,” noting that the truce was meant to support the resumption of peace negotiations.

Talks between the government and the communists are slated to resume on Aug. 20 in Oslo, Norway. The two sides are expected to discuss the release of political prisoners and previously signed agreements during the weeklong negotiations.

Negotiations with the communist rebels hit a snag in 2013 after negotiators failed to reach an agreement on jailed rebels who are allegedly working as peace consultants.