Palace non-committal over NPA call for suspension of military, police operations

MANILA, Philippines – Malacanang remains non-committal on the call of the New People’s Army for a suspension of military and police operations in the areas concerned in exchange for the release of Lingig, Surigao Del Sur Mayor Henry Dano.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the situation on the ground requires that the call for a ceasefire be carefully studied.

Lacierda made the remark on Saturday even as he was told that Dano’s wife had asked for the same so that her husband could be released.

The call for a SOMO and SOPO in the affected areas comes in the wake of a raid on three mining companies in Surigao Del Norte, attacks that are said to have caused P3 billion worth of damage.

“We will have to ask people on the ground and also the AFP and the PNP on that suggestion. Right now, again that is being studied. Of course we would welcome a ceasefire pero ang problema ho e sa ginagawa po ngayon e talagang pagaaralan ho yan, e [but the problem is, with what’s happening now, there is a need to study that],” Lacierda said.

“We will depend on the people on the ground for that assessment. And we will see from there,” he added.