Palace, AFP cool to Yule truce with NPA

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo supported the stand of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana not to declare a holiday truce between government troops and the communist New People’s Army (NPA) this Christmas season, which also coincides with the rebel group’s 50th anniversary on Dec. 26.

Panelo, also chief presidential legal adviser, expressed belief that a truce with the NPA should be made permanent to ensure sincerity from the leftist groups.

“There should be a permanent truce. There should be no bloodshed as far as the government is concerned. It’s about time we stopped all this bloodshed. It’s been 50 years, my God! Let’s end the internecine (fighting) among Filipinos,” he said.

Panelo said the Palace has yet to issue a formal statement pending possible discussions of the matter during Tuesday night’s Cabinet meeting presided over by the President.

Earlier in the day, Lorenzana said the rebels are already gearing up for the celebration of their 50th anniversary.

President Duterte, however, had also expressed anew serious concerns about the moves of the NPA as well as groups which they used as fronts for their anti-government demonstrations and other activities.

Lorenzana said the rebel communist group now being tagged by the government and the military as a terrorist organization can declare a ceasefire among their ranks if they want to.

“That’s their call. We are not keen on a ceasefire,” Lorenzana, a retired AFP official, said yesterday.

“No. I have objected to a SOMO (suspension of military operations). We shall not allow the CPP to use a SOMO to celebrate their 50th anniversary,” he added.

The CPP-NPA, headed by its founding chairman Jose Maria Sison, will be celebrating its foundation day on Dec. 26. 

Lorenzana also objected to a SOMO last year but Malacañang still declared a SOMO from Dec. 24, 2017 to Jan. 2, 2018.

President Duterte however, noted then that the holiday truce was “not addressed to the NPAs. Rather, I would want to celebrate Christmas with the rest of humankind or Filipinos, without stress.” 

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said the year-end accomplishment report showed that over 1,000 NPA rebels and over 10,000 supporters have surrendered because of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) that gave the insurgents a chance to return to their families and live peaceful lives.

He said some 116 rebels were killed in various military operations during the 11-month period, while 172 others were arrested. 

Arevalo said a total of 1,709 firearms were also recovered by government troops.

He said that 284 members of the Abu Sayyaf were neutralized by the military from January to November 2018.

The Army’s 1st Infantry Battalion (IB) overran a camp of NPA rebels in Barangay San Bueno, Sampaloc, Quezon on Tuesday.

While the military believes that many rebel members were either killed or wounded, three soldiers were also hurt in a 30-minute firefight that ensued between government troops and the enemy.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Manio, Commanding Officer of the 1st IB, said soldiers conducted Focus Military Operation in the area after receiving an intelligence report and tips from civilians about NPA presence and their extortion activities. With Michael Punongbayan