By NITZ ARANCON, Correspondent CAMP Evangelista yesterday ordered its troops to return to the barracks in compliance to President Duterte’s declaration of a unilateral ceasefire during his first State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday. Camp Evangelista spokesman Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez said, “We have already communicated with our   ground  troops so they could go back  to their respective units.” Martinez said Camp Evangelista suspended all military offensives against the New People’s Army (NPA) but not “bayanihan” efforts in the villages. He said the unilateral ceasefire would be indefinite because Duterte did not give a timeframe apparently to expedite the resumption of peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF). Martinez said he was certain rebels would be very happy with the unilateral ceasefire because they have long been calling for it, and the withdrawal of troops from communist-influenced areas. “We know that for some time now, the NPA has been asking for our  troops to be pulled out from areas where they are operating,” Martinez said. He however warned NPA rebels against taking advantage of the situation by harassing anyone in the outlying villages after troops have withdrawn, adding that soldiers would not hesitate to go out of their barracks and help in going after rebels. “We have our mandate  to protect the people  and to secure the communities. If the NPA would harass people, we will  support the law  enforcement operations  that will be conducted by the police,” he said. At Camp Alagar, officials were waiting for instructions from their superios. Camp Alagar spokesman Supt. Surki    Sereñas, “We will support the pronouncements of our Commander in Chief.” Sereñas said the police would only take a defensive stance against the NPA while it waits for guidelines from Camp Crame. He said, “Once we receive a directive from Camp Crame, then that will be the time we can implement  the unilateral ceasefire.”