Stay alert, Digong orders troops

PRESIDENT Duterte ordered the military to stay alert even with his declaration of a unilateral ceasefire with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

The ceasefire declaration is a sign of the government’s goodwill towards the realization of a peace agreement with the rebels.

“As President, I have to seek peace for our country. Not only with the communist insurgency but also with the Muslim insurgency,” he said.

He also reminded the military and police not to provoke the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and the NPA as their members are fellow Filipinos who are fighting for an ideology, unlike the Abu Sayyaf.

On Thursday, he expressed his disappointment with NPA rebels who ambushed members of a Citizens’ Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) in Davao del Norte resulting in the death of a militiaman and wounding four others.

“If we cannot honor a ceasefire, let’s just fight!” said Duterte, calling on the rebel group to investigate and discipline those responsible for the incident.

He said law enforcers who commit infractions are meted penalties, which must also be done among rebels.

Ultimatum

On Friday, Duterte gave the National Democratic Front (NDF) up to 5 pm yesterday to declare a ceasefire, too, or he would lift the unilateral ceasefire he declared during his 1st State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday.

Addressing the NDF after visiting the wake of the dead Cafgu, a furious Duterte said: “I am asking you: Are you ready to declare a ceasefire or hindi?”

Duterte said he declared a unilateral ceasefire “because I know that the Philippines needs peace to survive in the coming generations.”

“I have dealt with everybody in good faith. I’ve never foisted a lie… I decided to declare a ceasefire with the NDF/CPP/NPA. Nauna ako. And many days ago ang reply ng komunista is parang defensive position. Hindi naman stand down,” he said.

“That is not a good response,” Duterte said, adding he expected the NDF would respond by declaring a ceasefire, too.

He explained that the NDF knows the situation and does not need to study it further because  “all they have to do is to count the body bags na namatay sa kanila pati yung sa gobyerno… I was expecting that they would also reciprocate my implorings for peace with a ceasefire on their side. That should have been their response.”

Duterte said he wondered “if they are really in it for peace or jina-jamming nila ako. So I’d like to issue this statement. I am not scaring you. If you don’t like, that’s okay with me. We fight for another generation, okay sa akin.”

“I want to curse.  I’ve dealt with you in good faith. You tell me if you are not  ready to deal in the same manner,” Duterte warned.

“God, how many Filipinos have been killed? Who killed them? Filipinos, too. The problem with you is you carry the element of hate. You do not trust. You tell me that I will order the police and military out of the mountains. That is out of the question,” Duterte said.

“I cannot withdraw any soldier or policeman dito sa bukid,” he added.

He called on the NDF to “deal with us, deal with me in government in good faith. Let’s not fool each other because I have shown already many years ago my sincerity to you. And I have been selling this  idea to you: we need to stop fighting,” Duterte said.

In a statement dated July 29, Aris Francisco, spokesperson of the the NPA’s Comval North Davao South Agusan Subegional Command, owned up Wednesday’s ambush in Bagnsakan, Sitio Mulig, Barangay Gupitan in Kapalong, Davao del Norte, of what they claim to be members of the Alamara paramilitary but said the military and Cafgu were “clearly on combat operation and not engaged in ‘civilian’ activities, in direct violation to President Duterte’s ceasefire order.”

A member of the Cafgu Active Auxiliary of the 72nd Infantry Battalion was killed and four others were wounded in the ambush. (pna, and keith bacongco of mindanews)