AFP chief Guerrero urges men to be on active defense amid ceasefire

Armed Forces chief General Rey Leonardo Guererro on Friday urged his men to be on active defense amid the unilateral ceasefire declared by the government.

“To be on active defense, of course, and to make sure we continue protecting ‘yung mga communities natin,” Guererro told reporters when asked on his directive to his men.

He said they expect the communist rebels to intensify their recruitment during the ceasefire.

“So that is expected, they will use itong sinasabi nating space no, itong lull sa hostilities and fighting for them to engage in other activities,” he said.

Asked on the possibility of resumption of peace talks with communist rebels, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana replied in the negative.

“Listening to the President sabi niya no peace talks muna, the SOMO, suspension of military operations is unilateral, that’s the decision of the President,” he said.

He added that the SOMO was really intended to give the soldiers a chance to celebrate the holidays.

“Hindi naman ako nag-recommend (ng ceasefire). I did not want to have it pero sabi niya (President) sige bigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang ating mga tropa na maka spend ng Christmas sa mga families nila,”he said.

He added it will also give the communist rebels opportunity to go to their homes.

“Siguro bigyan din natin ang mga NPA na makauwi sa mga bahay bahay nila ngayon. Kung hindi sila mag declare ng ceasefire, that’s their problem,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News