Blasts mar start of Christmas truce
Credit to Author: Darwin Pesco| Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2019 16:13:15 +0000
Hours after the ceasefire between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) went into effect Monday, bomb attacks in Iloilo and Camarines Norte killed a soldier and wounded at least eight others.
The soldier was slain and six of his companions were wounded after an improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated in Labo, Camarines Norte.
Army Maj. Ricky Anthony Aguilar said the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels carried out the attack in Barangay Baay.
Based on the report, a platoon from the 92nd Division Reconnaissance Company was pulling out of a security operation in compliance with the Suspension of Military Operations as stipulated in the ceasefire.
While on their way to Barangay Baay, the platoon came under fire from NPA rebels who also detonated an IED.
Joint Task Force Bicolandia under Maj. Gen. Fernando Trinidad condemned the incident as a “treacherous act and their gross violation of the ceasefire.”
Trinidad said using an IED was a “clear violation” of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.
In Barangay Singon, Tubungan, Iloilo, another IED wounded two policemen at 9:40 Monday morning, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported.
PNP Officer in Charge Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said the blast wounded Pat. Eric Galve and SSgt. Ian John Lindo of the 1st Iloilo Mobile Force Company.
Gamboa said the NPA was probably behind the attack. Before the blast, police troops were in the middle of massive operations against the insurgents.
“This is probably the first atrocity that has happened despite the declaration of a unilateral ceasefire on the part of government,” Gamboa said at a press briefing.
The incidents show that the CPP does not have any control of their people,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said.
Arevalo, however, made it clear that it was not likely that the communist were behind the bomb attacks in Cotabato and Maguindanao on Sunday, blaming instead the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
Eight soldiers and four civilians were wounded when an IED went off on Sinsuat Avenue in Cotabato City at 6 p.m.
Thirty minutes later, another explosion rocked Limbungan, North Cotabato, injuring five people.
A third explosion — in Upi, Maguindanao, at 9 p.m. — wounded another individual.
Gamboa said the bombings would not change the police stand to lift martial law in Mindanao.
Martial law in Mindanao is set to end on December 31.
Malacañang on Monday said the government was prepared to fend off attacks the NPA might launch while the Christmas ceasefire is in effect.
The government and the communist rebels agreed on Sunday to a truce from December 23 to January 7 next year.
Speaking to reporters later in the day, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said the government would remain vigilant against NPA attacks even while the ceasefire is in effect.
“We are ready for that. We are always ready. As I said, any attack on their part will destroy the presumption of sincerity on this particular group,” Panelo said.
He said it did not matter to the Palace if the rebels would honor the truce because the essence of a rebellion was to bring down the government.
“It is not far-fetched that they want to eliminate all the officials running this government. But we’re prepared for that. We’re ready for that. They’ve been trying to do that for the last 50 years and they failed,” Panelo said.
Panelo also said President Rodrigo Duterte was willing to gamble on pushing through with the peace talks despite the earlier recommendation of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana against it.
“The President doesn’t want more bloodshed of our own fellow Filipinos. We want it stopped, it’s about time that they return to the fold of the law,” Panelo said.
The AFP and PNP on Monday issued a similar statement affirming their preparedness to thwart any rebel attack.
“The AFP will remain on alert, and stand ready respond to any threats to the safety and security of our communities,” Department of National Defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong said in a statement.
At the same time, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Noel Clement directed all field commanders to “observe faithfully” the ceasefire.
“They may however conduct patrols that are intended to secure their bases and camps as well as the communities within their areas of responsibility,” Arevalo told a press briefing.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said that while the PNP remains on the alert, the ceasefire “will also give an opportunity for our policemen and soldiers in the field to spend a meaningful celebration of Christmas with their families.”
Gamboa noted that the success of the ceasefire depends on the NPA.
“It will really depend on them but as we trust them we would have not declared a ceasefire if we don’t trust them and hopefully they will encourage us to trust them also,” he said.
Gamboa added that the PNP remains on full alert throughout the country as other threat groups might take advantage on the ceasefire.
In a separate statement, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the AFP and security authorities would continue to stay alert throughout the period of the ceasefire.
In the past, the rebels usually observe a unilateral ceasefire during the holiday season, which coincides with the anniversary of the NPA on December 26.
Duterte earlier announced that he would be giving the National Democratic Front, the umbrella organization of the CPP-NPA, another chance as he sought the resumption of negotiations.
The CPP and NPA have been listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the Philippines.