President Rodrigo Roa Duterte arrives at the airstrip in Fort Ramon Magsaysay in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija on Tuesday, July 26, 2016. KING RODRIGUEZ/PPD
DAVAO CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte warned the Communist Party of the Philippines that he will end the unilateral ceasefire if they will not give an explanation on the reported attack of the New People’s Army that resulted to the death of a Cafgu Active Auxiliary and the wounding of four others.
Speaking before the Army troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Luzon Command in Lucena City, Quezon Province on Thursday, July 28 Duterte said he called a Left-leaning Congressman after he learned about the NPA’s reported attacks against the Cafgu. The attack came two days after his first State of the Nation Address on Monday.
“Kausap ko yung congressman sabi ko ano ba to? Are we in into this truce or are we not? (I was speaking with the Congressman and I said ‘What’s this? Are we into this truce or are we not?’),” Duterte said.
He said he told the Congressman that he wants an answer by tonight or he will end the unilateral ceasefire.
“Sinabi ko sa kanila, give me an answer by tonight because ‘pag tomorrow wala, tatanggalin ko yung… eh balik tayo sa away.. kung yan ang gusto niyo (I told them, give me an answer by tonight because if there is no answer until tomorrow, I will withdraw the… Let’s go back to fighting.. If that’s what you want),” he said.
“If you do not honor and you kill a single soldier and a Cafgu, which is also a soldier of the republic eh sabi ko kalimutan na natin to (I said let’s forget about this),” he said.
Duterte said he wants to hear an explanation from the CPP and that they hold accountable their member who is responsible for the attack.
“Sabi ko I am demanding an explanation from the (CPP). And just like us, kung nagkasala kami dito we punish our men and women in service, I expect the same and I demand an answer na kung sino yung nagkasala they must be also put under disciplinary action, otherwise wala tayong pinag-usapan (I said I am demanding an explanation from the CPP. And just like us, we punish our erring men and women in service, I expect the same and demand an answer that whoever is responsible must face disciplinary action, otherwise we have nothing to talk about),” Duterte said.
The CPP has yet to issue a statement on the incident.
Meanwhile, Ka Oris, spokesperson of the NPA’s National Operational Command, said the NPA is on active defense mode following Duterte’s declaration of a unilateral ceasefire.
Ka Oris said that being on active defense mode, “the NPA is preparing for a reciprocal unilateral ceasefire declaration by the Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines to be issued soon as a boost for the upcoming NDFP-GRP peace talks.”
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.” (davaotoday.com)
