TARLAC CITY — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) instructed its troops to continue no let up operations against the New People’s Army (NPA) this holiday season.
NOLCOM Commander Lt. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. issued the order following President Duterte’s pronouncement that ceasefire with the NPA will not be declared this year.
“Our soldiers fully adhere to President Duterte’s decision not to declare ceasefire because time and again the NPA has been insincere and instead used the period to further their terroristic intentions toward the community and the general public,” he said.
“Per military intelligence, NPA has historically taken advantage of unilateral ceasefires declared by the government in the past to build up their army through forced recruitment, oppress our people through extortion and betray peace by launching attacks against both civilian and military targets,” Burgos added.
The official stressed that they will capitalize on the gains they have made in just a span of five days. These included the neutralization of one NPA Regional White Area Secretary and two NPA Finance Officers.
“We can, and we will, crush insurgency in this part of the country within the given timeline which will allow us to completely refocus our efforts in preserving and upholding our sovereignty over every inch of Philippine territory,” he said.
Burgos reaffirmed their support to the Filipino people’s aspirations for genuine and lasting peace which can only be achieved through sincere negotiations devoid of the violence inherent to the armed struggle which the NPA is espousing.
“NOLCOM has been promoting localized peace engagements instead of the traditional top-level as Communist Party of the Philippines and National Democratic Front negotiators no longer enjoy control over the armed NPA fighters in the ground who has almost always defied the provisions stipulated in previous ceasefire declarations,” he said.
Burgos assured that soldiers stationed in Regions 1,2,3 and Cordillera will always be willing to sacrifice time with their families this Yuletide season in the name of the most solemn mandate as defenders of the north, guardians of sovereignty and protectors of the Filipino people.