Palace welcomes NPA ceasefire in quake-hit areas

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

Malacañang on Monday welcomed the New People’s Army’s (NPA) announcement that it would declare a ceasefire in areas affected by the 6.7-magnitude earthquake that hit Surigao City on Friday, Feb. 19, 2017.

“We are glad that the NPA heeded the call of the military for a ceasefire in earthquake-affected areas,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement. “We welcome their declaration and hope they do not renege on it as they have previously done.”

Meanwhile, Andanar said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) continues to conduct damage assessment and rescue.

“These should be continuous and remain unhampered so we can deliver immediate aid to the victims of this natural calamity,” he said.

Andanar said citizens of Surigao who were affected by the earthquake do not need “distractions from criminal activities by armed groups.”

The NPA front in North Eastern Mindanao declared a temporary ceasefire to give way to relief operations. This announcement comes after the collapse of the peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front (NDF).

READ: NPA band declares limited ceasefire in quake-hit areas

The Communist Party of the Philippines’ military arm said it hoped the police and military would reciprocate with their own ceasefire. CBB/rga