Lorenzana says troops not attacking Reds during ceasefires: ‘Nandoon lang sila kampo nila’

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday denied that government forces have not been honoring holiday truce by continuously attacking communist rebels.

Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Fleet Review in Bataan, Lorenzana was asked for his reaction on the decision of the Communist Party of the Philippines not to declare a ceasefire this Christmas season.

"Okay lang sa amin. Eh kasi hindi kami mag-declare ng ceasefire, kailangan naman dalawa mag-ano eh, magkasundo para mag-declare ng ceasefire, siguro noong malaman nilang ayaw na rin ni Presidente ang ceasefire, ayaw na rin nila," Lorenzana said.

Lorenzana said ceasefires during the previous years were just used by the communists to recruit new members.

"Ang sa akin lang eh 'yun kasing mga ceasefire sa nakaraang taon, mga anniversary nila, sila 'yung lamang eh... they can resupply, they can refurbish, they can regroup, they can again go to the barangays and recruit members, so huwag na nating pag-usapan ang ceasefire kung ganoon ang ginagawa nila," he said.

Lorenzana also noted that the communists were the ones who committed atrocities during the holiday ceasefire as he cited some of the attacks the group had committed in the previous years.

"Kung tingnan ninyo 'yung record, kaya nga nagalit si Presidente eh dahil nagka ceasefire tayo ng February of 2017, inambush nila 'yung dalawang sundalo diyan sa Bukidnon, after that inambush na naman nila 'yung presidential convoy... these are violations of the ceasefire," Lorenzana said.

'Inside their barracks'

Soldiers are just inside their barracks and camps during the ceasefire, Lorenzana said.

"Wala naman tayong inaatake pag ceasefire natin, all our troops are in the barracks. Nandoon sila sa mga kampo-kampo nila or detachment nila, hindi sila gumagalaw," he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier decided that there would be no more ceasefire with the communist group for the rest of his term after the military did not recommend a truce due to the rebels' supposed insincerity.

Duterte also said the government would no longer return to the peace negotiating table with the National Democratic Front, the CPP's negotiating arm. — RSJ, GMA News