No Xmas truce with Reds – Lorenzana
In view of the continuing attacks by communist rebels on government troops even when a ceasefire was in effect, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana will not recommend a suspension of military operations (SOMO) against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) this Holiday Season.
“No, I will not. I will not,” Lorenzana told reporters shortly after attending the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Year-End Council Meeting.
“Because there have been, there was an order by their commanders to intensify operations against us. So kung mag SOMO kami (if we will declare SOMO) and we will stand down then they will attack us again,” the Defense chief added.
The Armed Forces in the
spirit of the Christmas season has declared a truce with the communist rebels in the past. “Well that has been the tradition, so we can always break tradition,” Lorenzana said.
He also denied that President Duterte ordered the military to launch orchestrated, deliberate offensives against the CPP-NPA.
“Not at all. His order is to shoot armed NPAs so we have been doing that all along even before. If they are armed and they fight we will also fight back (and) we shoot them,” he said.
7 rebels, 2 soldiers Over the weekend, joint elements of the Army’s 33rd and 27th Infantry Battalions seized the largest NPA guerilla base in the boundary of Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato after a military engagement that led to the death of seven NPA rebels.
The government lost two soldiers in the encounter. Reports said the rebels engaged the troops of 27th IB near a cave hideout in Sitio Datal Bonglangon, Ned village, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato that resulted in a running gunbattle.
As troops of the 33rd IB maneuvered to support the engaged troops, they were met with heavy gunfire by about 30 rebels who occupied fortified bunkers at mid-afternoon Sunday.
Supported by artillery fires from the Charlie Company, 7th Field Artillery Battalion, the troops outfought the terrorists, forcing the enemy to flee with their casualties.
The troops recovered two firearms and communist documents in the seized encampment.
Datu Dandee Denian, a tribal leader from Tulale village, confirmed that among those killed in the encounter were Datu Victor Denian and two of the latter’s sons who reinforced the NPA terrorists.
Cabunoc has arranged a tribal burial rite for the victims who belong to the Dulangan Manobo.
10 NPAs surrender
Also on Monday, 10 NPA rebels belonging to Platoon Arabo of Guerilla Front 73 surrendered to Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc in the presence of Datu Tony Paan and Sto. Niño village chairman Hon. Julieto Ynion.
The ‘Balik Tribo’ surrender rite was held in Sitio Bermuda, about a kilometer away from the seized NPA camp.