2 versions of clash raise questions

MEMBERS of the New People’s Army stands at attention during rites celebrating the anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines in a rebel camp somewhere in Mindanao. KARLOS MANLUPIG

GOVERNMENT soldiers just stared as a convoy of motorcycles navigated through a slippery dirt road in a mining area here.

They were not wearing combat gear or lugging firearms.

A soldier was busy giving his buddy a haircut, while others were lounging in their hammocks tied to a tree.

Most spent the day cutting grass along the road.

The nearest unit of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) is a few kilometers away from their position. Probably, doing the same thing.

It was the second day of President Duterte’s unilateral ceasefire with the National Democratic Front.

Capt. Rhyan Batchar, spokesperson of the military’s 10th Infantry Division, said the soldiers were complying with the President’s order.

Batchar said he wouldn’t know why the soldiers were cutting grass along the road. Probably “a smaller version of an outreach program,” he said.

He said all government forces had already been informed of Mr. Duterte’s ceasefire order.

“We have already shifted modes and we are not anymore allowed to conduct military operations against the NPA,” Batchar said.

But Batchar said government soldiers would continue to secure people and public installations.

Briefings on peace and order have been held with local officials to give them updates on the coming peace talks between the government and communist leaders.

“We requested them to refocus the delivery of services to the barangays,” Batchar said.

“The military can help identify the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas,” he said.

That was Tuesday.

On Wednesday, a government militia was killed and four others were wounded in an ambush by communist guerrillas in the town of Kapalong in Davao del Norte province, some 110 kilometers from where the Inquirer witnessed soldiers take noncombat positions after Mr. Duterte’s ceasefire order.

“It was a very unfortunate incident,” Batchar said.

He said before the ceasefire order, soldiers “were already out in the field” for combat operations. “They were in the middle of it when the ceasefire was declared,” Batchar said.

The military unit attacked by guerrillas in Kapalong, he said, were already returning to barracks to heed the ceasefire order when they were ambushed by guerrillas.

“We hope that the higher organ of the NPA will act on it,” he said. “The government is doing everything for the resumption of the talks.”

Twisted report?

But Aris Francisco, spokesperson of the NPA’s Comval North South Agusan Subregional Command, said in an
e-mail statement on Friday that the military twisted its report to pin the blame on NPA.

Francisco said the militiamen were not returning to camp as claimed by the military.

“Nothing can be farther from the truth,” Francisco said. He said the military and the tribal militia, Alamara, “have been on active operation in Kapalong” that led to clashes, including the July 5 attack that killed a militiaman and wounded a guerrilla.

Francisco said the military unit attacked by the guerrillas continued offensives against NPA, ignoring Mr. Duterte’s
order.

NPA rebels, Francisco said, only defended themselves.

The military, he said, twisted facts “leaving out the fact that its troops were clearly on combat operations and not engaged in civilian activities.”

Francisco also accused the military of “sabotaging” the peace process.

NPA had welcomed Mr. Duterte’s ceasefire order and reciprocated by ordering all rebel units to shift to “active defense mode” while awaiting a ceasefire declaration by higher communist leaders.

Mr. Duterte had given the guerrillas until 5 p.m. Saturday to submit an explanation and declare a ceasefire.

As of late Saturday afternoon, the clock had been ticking.

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