MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte will look into the recommendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) not to declare a holiday ceasefire with communist rebels this yuletide season, his spokesperson Harry Roque said.
“Ako po’y tagapagsalita lamang, I cannot second guess the decision of the President. But ang ma-a-assure ko sa inyo ‘yung mga ganyang rekomendasyon ng AFP, the President gives it a lot of weight,” said Roque. “Pakikinggan po iyan, but ultimately it is only the President who will decide.”
AFP spokesperson Edgard Arevalo, for his part, said they are not inclined to recommend a truce, citing ceasefire violations committed by the New People’s Army.
“Nagsalita na ang Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas, partikular si ating Chief of Staff, General Gilbert Gapay, na hindi po natin imumungkahi sa ating Pangulo na magkaroon ng holiday ceasefire,” Arevalo said in an interview with DZBB on Sunday.
“More than that, ‘yung ceasefire, talagang hindi na natin ‘yan irerekomenda even beyond or outside of the holiday season,” he added.
According to Arevalo, the rebels have shown “insincerity” in their agreement to ceasefire with their continued attacks and extortion activities despite truce efforts.
“Sa napakaraming pagkakataon, sa mga nagdaang pagkakataon, hindi naging sinsero o tapat itong teroristang grupong ito, and every time bina-violate nila ang sariling ceasefire na kanilang dinedeklara,” Arevalo said.
“During the incumbency of a truce, these terrorists continued their extortion activities and committed crimes of murder, arson and the likes,” he added./PN
