THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Thursday, December 3, 2020, that they are not recommending to President Rodrigo Duterte a holiday ceasefire with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
In a statement, AFP spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo said the communist terrorist group has shown insincerity and unfaithfulness to the ceasefire in the past.
“This was the AFP’s painful experience where the CTG reneged from their own ceasefire declaration by attacking and killing soldiers on humanitarian and peace and development missions,” he said.
“During the incumbency of a truce, these terrorists continued their extortion activities and committed crimes of murder, arson, and the likes. They venture on peace talks only to give themselves the chance to regroup, refurbish, recruit new members and recoup their losses,” he added.
Arevalo said National Democratic Front of the Philippines negotiator Luis Jalandoni had pushed for peace negotiations not for tranquility but to pursue armed struggle between the government and the rebels.
“And with these many hard lessons of the past, we will not allow them to trample upon our people’s bona fide desire for peace—not this holiday season—not until we have decisively defeated this menace to society,” he said.
Arevalo said, however, that Duterte still has the final say. (SunStar Philippines)