Military in Mindanao supports Duterte’s last push for peace with Reds

BUTUAN CITY — The two largest area commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), late Thursday afternoon, announced their support for President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s efforts to give the peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army- National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) a last chance to succeed.

The AFP’s Northeastern and Northern Mindanao Fourth Infantry Division (4th ID), the largest combat maneuvering division in Mindanao, and the Southern Mindanao 10th Infantry Division (10th ID), sent separate statements to The Manila Bulletin, supporting their Commander-In-Chief in the resumption of the stalled peace talks.

“The 4th ID appreciates this development, as we assure the people that we will remain steadfast and proactive in performing our tasks of securing the people from the attacks of CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs),” the statement from the northeastern and northern Mindanao commands said.

“We enjoin the public to remain vigilant and report actions of CNTs that are not contributory to peaceful resolution of conflict,” the 4th ID statement added.

“10th ID also supports the statement of The President to give the peace talks with the CPP-NPANDF a last chance,” the 10th ID said in a separate statement.

“We will continue in performing our mandated tasks of protecting the people from the threat/atrocities made by CPP-NPA terrorist group and we assure the people that 10th ID will continue in securing the vulnerable communities in its area of responsibility,” the 10th ID statement added.

And in supporting Duterte’s efforts the 4th and 10th IDs underscored that the conditions laid down by the President should be heeded by the CPP-NPA. These are the implementation of a bilateral ceasefire, no pursuit of coalition in government, the stop of attacks on government forces and civilians, extortion, destruction of property, expansion and recruitment, and roaming around with firearms.

In line with this, the 4th ID and 10th ID also announced that they will continue follow specific directives from higher headquarters, in relation with the resumption of peace talks, their respective statement added.

In another development, two NPA rebels who recently surrendered to the military were killed in an ambush allegedly by their former comrades in Montevista, Compostela Valley on Tuesday.

The 10th ID report added that the attack resulted in the death of the two newly surrendered NPA members of the NPA Militia ng Bayan in Montevista town.