DAVAO CITY—The National Democratic Front (NDF) has recommended the New People’s Army (NPA) to “refrain” from attacking government forces and focus instead in the proposed cooperation in neutralizing terror groups in the country.
Fidel Agcaoili, chief negotiator of the NDF, said on Saturday that the recommendation was already communicated to the Communist Party of the Philippines.
“We condemn and are resolved and determined to counteract the Maute, Abu Sayyaf and Ansar Al Khilafah Philippines (AKP) groups which are wreaking havoc in Marawi City. These are terrorist groups linked to local reactionary forces, affiliated with ISIS and supported by US-CIA and other foreign entities,” Agcaoili said.
The senior communist leader said that the breather from fighting between guerrillas and government forces would hopefully establish cooperation between the two parties to concentrate all available forces and resources in crushing terror organizations especially the so-called Maute group that sieged Marawi City.
“For all forces to be able to concentrate against Maute, Abu Sayyaf and AKP groups, the NDFP has recommended to the CPP to order all other NPA units in Mindanao to refrain from carrying out offensive operations against the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP), provided that the GRP orders the AFP and PNP likewise to refrain from carrying out offensive operations against the NPA and people’s militia,” Agcaoili said.
Karlos Manlupig - Correspondent
@kmanlupig
* INQInquirer Mindanao / 09:31 AM June 17, 2017:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/906300/ndf-tells-npa-refrain-from-attacking-govt-in-mindanao#ixzz4kuJEd2yf
Continued NPA offensive vs gov’t ‘puzzles’ Palace
The government is “disturbed” by the recent attacks of communists rebels even after the National Democratic Front (NDF) ordered its armed wing to refrain from launching offensive against state forces.
The NDF had earlier urged the New People’s Army (NPA) to “refrain” from attacking government forces particularly in Mindanao amid the Marawi siege. The government also reciprocated NDF’s call.
“We are disturbed by the recent NPA attacks, considering that their leaders in Europe issued a statement condemning the incident in Marawi, even offering to refrain from undertaking offensive operations in Mindanao to enable our government forces to deal with (terrorism and) focus on the rebellion still happening (in Mindanao),” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement on Saturday.
Abella said the NPA attacks cast doubt on the sincerity of the communist rebels on pursuing peace talks with the government.
“Several recent serious offensives in Mindanao and elsewhere in the country allegedly committed by the CPP, NPA, NDFP forces further fueled the public’s doubts on whether it is still worthwhile to continue the peace negotiations with them,” he said.
On June 17, the military engaged in a firefight with NPA rebels in Cateel, Davao Oriential where three rebels died. On the same day, the military again clashed with the rebels at Pantukan, Compostella Valley.
On June 18, around 40 rebels attacked a police station in Maasin town in Iloilo and took 12 firearms, including eight high-powered rifles.
“These NPA attacks disrupt the conducive and enabling environment indispensable in peacemaking and peacebuilding. In the meantime, we will await further validation of these recent incidents and will undertake corresponding and appropriate steps to deal decisively with the situation,” Abella said.
The scheduled peace talks between the government and the NDF on May 27 to June 2 were suspended following the continued attacks of rebels against government forces. JPV
Nestor Corrales - Reporter
@NCorrales
* INQINQUIRER.net / 01:01 PM June 24, 2017:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/908335/continued-npa-offensive-vs-govt-puzzles-palace#ixzz4kuK932rn