On Sunday,
the Eastern Mindanao Command of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines has declared a ceasefire against the New People’s Army in Surigao del Norte and
Agusan del Norte. This ceasefire is due to the request of higher ups.
Captain
Alberto Caber, spokesman of the AFP Eastmincom, said Lieutenant General Rainier
Cruz applied a five-day suspension of military operations against the NPA
rebels that effectively implemented on Sunday.
Among the
municipalities that are covered by the ceasefire affirmation are the eight
municipalities which are namely: Placer, Bacuag, Tubod, Gigakit, Claver, and
Alegria in Surigao del Norte and the municipalities of Santiago, Kitcharao, and
Jabonga in Agusan del Norte.
Caber said
that the 5 days ceasefire is just for temporary purposes to prevent the AFP from the conduct
of cautious offensive operations against the NPA except on movements or
activities aimed to support the civil authorities, government instrumentalities
and other agencies in encouraging peace, development and humanitarian aid
programs.
However, the
Governor Sol Matugas of Surigao del Norte demanded the AFP Eastmincom to
declare a limited ceasefire. Recently, a fight between the
NPA rebels and guards of a Manobo chieftain was the latest firefight that involved
communists and government armed forces.
There are at
least 70 members of the NPA involved in a firefight with the guards of Datu
Kalpit on July 15 and 13 of them are reported
killed.
Caber said that both AFP and PNP units, as well
as the concerned local government units
and other civilian patrons are working together to protect the people and their
communities from attacks and
harassment of CPP-NPA.
