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Military accuses NPA of violating own ceasefire


The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has accused the communist New People's Army (NPA) of violating its own holiday ceasefire when it "harassed" a military patrol base in Compostela Valley on Christmas Day.

"The AFP strongly condemns the clear violation of the NPA of their own ceasefire declaration as evidenced by recent attacks on our troops,"  AFP spokesperson Colonel Edgard Arevalo said in a press statement.

"The NPA's harassment of a military patrol base in December 25, and attempted abduction of CAA member are clear violations of their own declaration."

The government has declared holiday ceasefire from 6 p.m. of December 23 to 11:59 p.m. of December 26, and from 6 p.m. of December 30 to 11:59 p.m. of Jan. 2, 2018.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), in return, declared its own ceasefire from 6 p.m. of December 23 to 6 p.m. of December 26, and from 6 p.m. of December 30 to 6 p.m. of Jan. 2, 2018.

Arevalo said the acts showed the duplicity and deception of the communist rebels in saying one thing while doing the opposite.

"Such treacherous attacks are expected of the NPA despite their ceasefire declaration since they have, for the longest time, lost their ideological mooring and resorted to actions reflective of a terrorist organization," he said.

According to the military, NPA rebels tried to capture a government militiaman in Compostela Valley on the morning of December 25. Hours later, the rebels harassed a military patrol base in Brgy Melale, resulting in a brief firefight.

No government troop was injured in the attacks, the military said.

Arevalo said the AFP will remain faithful to the government’s yuletide ceasefire and will remain on active defense. —Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMA News

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