Military urges  NPA to help humanitarian operations in Surigao

February 13, 2017

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) invited the New People’s Army (NPA) to join the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) operation after the rebel group declared a truce in earthquake-hit areas.

“We say that this is a good move on the part of the New People’s Army, we are happy that they responded positively to our call to spare our soldiers who are performing rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations to benefit the victims of this tremor,” Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP Public Affairs chief, told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo Monday after the NPA declared its own ceasefire on earthquake hit areas.

“This only goes to show that within their (NPA) ranks there remains to be good, there remains to be people who have good intentions and have good desire and it also a show of love and care for the people not to disturb the operation in this time of calamity,” Arevalo added.

It can be recalled last Saturday, the AFP urged the NPA not to attack its soldiers conducting HADR operation for the victims of last Friday’s tremor. Robina Asido/DMS