CPP blames Duterte, AFP: Soldiers on offensive bound to be struck by NPA

The Communist Party of the Philippines on Monday blamed President Rodrigo Duterte and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the supposed military offensives that resulted in the deaths of at least six soldiers over the past days.

The killings led Duterte to end the government's unilateral ceasefire with the CPP-New People's Army-National Democratic Front and terminate the peace talks with leftist rebels over the weekend.

The CPP-NPA-NDF had ended its own unilateral ceasefire three days before the government did on Friday.

"In declaring his intention to pull out from the GRP-NDFP negotiations, Duterte echoed the exaggerated anger of the AFP over the outbreak of successive armed skirmishes between the New People’s Army and the AFP resulting in the death of six AFP troops since the end of January," the CPP said in a statement.

The party said Duterte glossed over the fact that he and the AFP hierarchy had ordered the forward deployment of armed troops in the guerrilla zones and bases of the NPA.

"The forward deployed armed troops of the AFP were bound to be struck by NPA active defense actions," the CPP said.

The party said Duterte's decisions to end the government ceasefire and pull out of the talks were made clearly "without judicious consideration of the advise of his peace panel, and coming at the heels of a successful third round of peace talks in Rome, Italy just over a week ago."

The CPP also called out Duterte for his failure to deliver on a promise to declare an amnesty for political prisoners.

"Apparently, the biggest stumbling block to the release of political prisoners is the AFP," the party said.

"In declaring he will not release all political prisoners, Duterte says he must also listen to the military, even if this means turning a deaf ear to the people’s cry for justice. It has become quite clear that Duterte, who relies on the support of the AFP for his political survival, now favors the military and police more than the people," it added.

The AFP late last week condemned atrocities allegedly committed by NPA rebels, including the killing of three non-combat soldiers in Bukidnon province.

"These soldiers were in civilian uniform and just came from non-combat activity when they were mercilessly fired upon by the NPA and they admitted having fired the first shot," AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said hours before Duterte ordered the lifting of the government's unilateral ceasefire with the rebels.

"The victims received up to 27 gunshot wounds each on one body according to the report of PNP SOCO and our own medical investigation," he added.

Padilla said the rebels also abducted three soldiers in separate incidents in Surigao del Norte and Sultan Kudarat.

"We hereby demand the immediate release of PFC Salan abducted January 29, and two other soldiers abducted February 2," he said.

The CPP accused the AFP of long "contriving a scenario to force an end to the reciprocal ceasefire declarations."

The party said AFP strike operations had intensified over the past few weeks leading to the January 23 attack on an NPA encampment in Makilala, and the January 26 assault on an NPA camp in Matalam, both in North Cotabato.

"The relentless offensive operations of the AFP show it has long been contriving a scenario to force an end to the reciprocal ceasefire declarations. Its declarations supporting peace talks is hypocritical public posturing," the CPP said.

The party said the NPA had heightened its active defense manuevers over the past days to defend the interests and welfare of people.

"The announcement by the Party and NPA last February 1 terminating the ceasefire declaration was made with more than sufficient forewarning since two months ago," the CPP said. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/NB, GMA News