DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is ready to fight with the New Peoples Army (NPA) rebels threatening and harassing peaceful communities especially in the countryside.
Though they are ready to fight, the AFP is also opening its doors to the rebels who want to go back to the mainstream society and live peacefully.
AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, in a statement said “The AFP supports the decision of the President to cancel talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF and to go ‘all
out’ against the NPA terrorists.
Guerero’s statement added the AFP is support1ng local peace initiatives by our local elected officials including programs that seek to integrate NPAs back to mainstream society.
Last Thursday, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation 360 which terminated the ongoing peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF following the series of atrocities committed by NPA bands against military and civilian targets in various parts of the country.
Duterte vowed to arrest CPP Founding Chairman Jose Ma. Sison should he return to the Philippines (https://newsline.ph/top-stories/2017/11/25/duterte-to-order-arrests-of-communist-leader-jose-ma-sison-if-he-comes-come/)
The AFP recorded 64 deaths involving soldiers, police officers and militiamen were killed while another 127 wounded in various attacks and ambushes conducted by the NPA on this year alone while the peace talks was still ongoing.
The rebel attacks did not only killed government forces, it also killed 70 civilians including the four-month baby girl in Bukidnon last Nov. 9, 2017.
While the AFP is ready to figt and accept surrenderrees, the Philippine Army (PA) is allocating PHP55.6 million for the construction of a “counter-terrorism training complex” at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.-Editha Z. Caduaya/Newsline.ph
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