Lorenzana: AFP can break 'tradition' of holiday truce with NPA
In this photo taken Nov. 23, 2016, members of the New People's Army communist rebels with face painted to conceal their identities, stand in formation during ceremonies before a news conference held at their guerrilla encampment tucked in the harsh wilderness. AP/File photo
MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday said he will not recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte to observe the traditional Christmas truce with communist fighters, signaling sustained hostilities following the collapse of peace talks with Maoist rebels last month.
Amid continued clashes during the negotiations, Duterte on November 23 signed a proclamation unilaterally scrapping the peace process with communists that aimed to end nearly half-century long of insurgency.
He said peace talks were called off because of the Left’s “pure nonsense” demand for a coalition government, which he opposed by insisting he should maintain control over the military and the police.
Speaking to reporters, Lorenzana said he will not ask Duterte to declare a ceasefire with the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, due to heightened guerrilla attacks against state forces.
The Defense chief said suspending military operations against the NPAs would leave soldiers vulnerable to assaults from leftist combatants, adding that the government “can always break traditions.”
“No, I will not. Because there was an order by their commanders to intensify operations against us,” Lorenzana said.
“So kung mag-suko kami (So if we will silence our guns) and we will stand down, they will attack us again,” he added.
On-off peace talks
A self-styled socialist, Duterte reactivated peace talks with communists in August last year. Both sides have been in on-off negotiations since 1986.
Duterte previously sent mixed signals on the peace negotiations with the Maoist guerillas.
He would express readiness to talk to the insurgents after declaring that peace negotiations with them are just a "waste of money."
Early this month, Duterte ordered security forces to shoot communist rebels bearing firearms. He said an executive order is being prepared to declare the communist movement as a terrorist group.
According to Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo, the military is gaining the upper hand with a total of 264 rebels either killed or apprehended by government forces from February to November.
He also said the AFP will likely not observe a holiday truce with the rebels as he called anew on the NPAs to “surrender or suffer the same fate as their cohorts killed in the latest military operations.”
“While we are hopeful that more NPAs will surrender in the coming days, our troops on the ground will continue with our relentless operations against them who remain active in their violent and destructive criminal activities against our people in the communities,” Arevalo said.
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