Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to withdraw a unilateral ceasefire with communist rebel groups declared during his first State of the Nation Address, after rebels were involved in the death of a government employee.
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The New People’s Army reportedly attacked CAFGU personnel in Barangay Gupitan, Kapalong, Davao del Norte, Wednesday morning, July 27, 2016.
The tough-talking president said he demanded an explanation from the communists about the attack and asked them to punish the rebels behind the assault like what the military does to erring soldiers. Are we in a truce or are we not?
“Give me answer by tonight because if tomorrow there is still none, I will revoke the ceasefire order”.
One CAFGU was killed while four others were wounded, according to 10th Infantry Division spokesperson Rhyan Batchar.
Duterte declared a unilateral cease-fire with the rebels effective Monday in a bid to end the bloody insurgency and foster the resumption of peace talks.
In a speech before soldiers at Camp Guillermo Nakar, the President said the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front (NDF) should give him an explanation before midnight on Thursday or he will scrap the declaration of ceasefire. I demand an answer. “President Arroyo said caution”, the President said.
Ka Oris said prior to the unilateral ceasefire declaration by Duterte, they observed that the Army “has been carrying out intensified combat and patrol operations, reconnaissance and intelligence activities, occupation of civilian communities and attacks against human rights”. The Philippine National Police also ordered all units to halt its operations against the communist guerillas. But Duterte, who describes himself as a socialist, had given concessions to the rebels, naming left-wing activists to two Cabinet posts and moving to resume peace talks with them from August 20 to 27 in the Norwegian capital of Oslo.
CPP founder Joma Sison had said that his side would reciprocate the declaration soon, but no announcement has been made, to date.
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The membership of the NPA as the armed wing of the CPP, has dwindled significantly since the 1980s, but it remains capable of mounting deadly guerrilla attacks.
