The Daily Manila Shimbun

 

AFP thanks Duterte for not declaring holiday truce with communists

December 8, 2020



The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) expressed its gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte for heeding their recommendation not to declare a holiday truce with the communist group.

"We are thankful to the Commander-in-Chief for heeding the AFP’s recommendation not to declare ceasefire this holiday season and beyond—not because we do not want peace, but because what we advocate is a genuine and lasting peace that we cannot achieve through a peace pact with the NPA that is notoriously insincere and unworthy of public trust." said Major General Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesperson, in a statement issued on Tuesday.

In a public briefing on Monday, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay explained why the military did not recommend declaring a ceasefire with the communist group.

"We are not bent on recommending any ceasefire for the holidays... every time, we will have holiday truce with the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army)  they committed many violations," he said.

"Imagine the last year, right after the announcement of ceasefire, during the holidays they attacked, ambushed our troops. They continued their extortion activity in communities", he added.

Gapay said truce should be a " mutual agreement between two parties but the problem is it's always one sided.''

''It's just the AFP who always follow the provisions of the holiday truce or ceasefire," said Gapay. Robina Asido/DMS