DND, AFP to pursue ops vs NPA as PH cancels peace talks

The Department of National Defense (DND) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) would continue to pursue its operations against the armed components of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) as the Duterte government announced the cancellation of the peace talks.

“[This is] in keeping with the President’s guidance,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

The government announced that it is poised to cancel all planned meetings with the communist rebels after President Rodrigo Duterte said he is no longer inclined to hold peace negotiations with them.

He also recently said that he would issue a proclamation tagging the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the CPP, as “terrorists.”

“The President has had enough of the communist movement’s penchant for double talk and continued acts of atrocities against the Filipino people,” Andolong said.

But the DND urged the communist rebels to surrender and return to the folds of law.

“We strongly suggest to the NPA to lay down their arms, surrender, return to society, and be part of the real change espoused by the national leadership,” he said.             /kga