THE military has accused the communist rebels of violating their own unilateral ceasefire when they allegedly harassed army troopers in Davao Oriental on Christmas Day, December 25.
Major General Noel Clement, Philippine Army 10th Infantry Division commander, said separate encounters occurred Monday between government troops and the New People's Army (NPA).
At 9:30 a.m., Clement said NPA terrorists tried to capture elements of the 72nd Infantry Batallion in Sitio Madian, Tubaon village, Davao Oriental. Another encounter occurred at about 7:30 p.m. in Barangay Melale, Laak. Compostela Valley.
"Upon sensing that the detachment was being harassed, the troops immediately established defensive position and returned fire. The firefight lasted for about two minutes and the enemy withdrew towards northwest direction," Clement said.
The official said what the NPA rebels did was a clear violation of the unilateral ceasefire that they declared from 6 p.m. of December 23 to 6 p.m. of December 26.
“It was absolutely a clear violation of ceasefire made by the terrorist NPA to disrupt our efforts in making sure Christmas will be celebrated peacefully. Their celebration is usually accompanied by armed attacks against the people that reflect their true color as a criminal organization void of any ideology," Clement said.
The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), has been tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte as a terrorist organization following the breakdown of peace negotiations with CPP's political arm National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
Both the government and the NPA, however, have separately declared a unilateral ceasefire for the Christmas and New Year weekends.
The Christmas ceasefire has expired, but government will again observe a truce from 6 p.m. of December 30 to 11:59 p.m. of January 2, 2018. The NPA's unilateral ceasefire will also take place on those dates, but will last only until 6 p.m. of January 2. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)