THE Armed Forces yesterday vehemently denied claims made by communist rebels that the military has been violating the suspension-of-military operations put in place to facilitate the ongoing peace talks.
“The AFP denies allegations of violating the provisions of the Somo. We’re following it to the letter,” said AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo.
Arevalo said that while the Somo prescribes combat operations by the military against the rebels, it allows AFP units to conduct law enforcement or support for law enforcement operations.
“It does not contravene the Somo if AFP units support or capacitate local governments to bring basic government services to their constituents,” Arevalo said.
President Duterte has restored a unilateral and indefinite ceasefire on the eve of the formal resumption of the peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF) in Aug. 21 to create a favorable condition for the negotiations.
This resulted in the NDF extending its seven-day goodwill ceasefire (Aug. 21-27) by declaring its own unilateral and indefinite ceasefire when the first round of talks in Oslo ended on Aug. 26.
“We do not know of any territory but poor communities in the countryside where citizens yearn for the presence of government to bring about development and peace and order,” Arevalo said.
He said they have monitored NPA recruitment operations and stressed that it was even confirmed by the rebel leaders.
“Their leaders confirm it. But we do not complain about it but we’re recording it. We hope that a joint ceasefire agreement will be signed soon. That should provide for what may constitute violations and the mechanism on how to address violations of the agreement,” Arevalo said. (pna)
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