MANILA — With the conclusion of the Yuletide truce this Jan. 2, military units can now pursue New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists who blatantly violated their own ceasefire declaration by attacking government troops and civilian communities.
“The AFP will resume focused military operations after the SOMO (suspension of military operations) has lapsed. All ground units will pursue NPA members who violated their own ceasefire declaration by attacking government troops and harrassing civilian communities,” AFP spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo said in a message Tuesday.
The AFP implemented a unilateral ceasefire during the Yuletide Season which started 6 p.m. of Dec. 23 to 6 p.m. of Dec. 26 and 6 p.m. Dec. 30 until 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 2.
This ceasefire was mirrored by the NPA but some of its units opted to attack military units in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.
He added that military units will resume pro-active combat measures nationwide to protect vulnerable communities from armed threats and deceptions of the NPA.
“Our non-combat efforts on assisting other line government agencies on infrastructure development and community health engagements will continue,” Arevalo said. (Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)