NPA admits to 20 operations vs. military in the last 5 days

New People's Army (NPA) rebels on Friday admitted conducting operations against the military despite its unilateral ceasefire, saying it is part of their "active defense posture" against government forces.

"This active defense posture is but an inevitable consequence of the Duterte government's obduracy and duplicity in continuing offensive operations under then Oplan Bayanihan and presently Oplan Kapayapaan in violation of the spirit of the ceasefire declarations reciprocally declared by the GRP (Government of the Philippines) and the NDFP (National Democratic Front of the Philippines)," said NPA spokesman Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos in a statement.

The NPA had earlier lifted its ceasefire declaration effective February 10, a move reciprocated by President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday.

In the statement, Madlos said in the last five days, they have carried out at least 20 operations across the country to defend their rights against the military.

He said their forces in Agusan, Surigao, Davao, Bukidnon and Sultan Kudarat in Mindanao, as well as Isabela and Batangas in Luzon and Panay in Visayas, have been alerted by the NPA leadership against military actions.

"Most of the NPA military actions have targetted the so-called 'peace and development teams' of armed troops of the AFP which have entrenched themselves at village centers, usually making use of barangay halls, day care centers and public schools as their barracks," he said, adding the military had refused to withdraw their troops.

Madlos said at least five soldiers have been captured and a number of them were killed and wounded in the operations. He added that the soldiers were the subjects of numerous complaints over violations of human rights, intimidation, threats and abuses against barrio folks.

The military has condemned the atrocities committed by rebels, including the death of three non-combatant soldiers in Bukidnon, saying that with the abductions and killings, the rebels have violated their own ceasefire.

"These acts are not only violations of their own ceasefire declaration, that is still in effect, it is an utter disregard to International Humanitarian Law," AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News