While he was resolved on not declaring a ceasefire with communist rebels this holiday season, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Wednesday that he would abide by President Rodrigo Duterte’s sudden declaration suspending military operations against the New People’s Army (NPA) from December 4 to January 2, 2018.
“Nag-declare na ba siya? Well, we have to follow the directive of the President,” Lorenzana told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.
Earlier this December, the Department of National Defense (DND) chief said he would not recommend the observation of the traditional Christmas truce with communist fighters to President Duterte, citing the continuous attacks carried out by the NPA against government forces.
Duterte scrapped the peace talks last November, and subsequently, officially declared the communist rebels as terrorists.
“I was actually adamant. I did not recommend for the cessation of military operation against the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army. But if the President declared so then we are going to implement and abide by the directive of the President,” Lorenzana said. /kga