AFP chief of staff says military ready as ceasefire with Reds ends

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has more than sufficient forces to meet rebel groups in Eastern Mindanao and elsewhere as the unilateral ceasefires of both the government and the communist group ended, AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año said. 

“We have enough forces. We will assess everything before we make any troop movement or any adjustment,” he said when asked whether there is a need for more forces after the lifting of the government ceasefire in the wake of unprovoked New People’s Army (NPA) attacks which had left six troopers dead and three others abducted this week.

Año noted he has been in contact with all military commanders in Eastern Mindanao and that all of them are now aware of what they need to do.

“They know already what to do because when we (had) our command conference early last month, (part of the) contingency planning is what the military would do in case peace negotiations fail or should the NPA decide to withdraw their ceasefire,” he said.

Año placed the number of NPA combatants in the entire country at 3,700, half of whom are operating in Eastern Mindanao.

He said this is the reason why the AFP is focusing on community development programs in the countryside, especially those with Indigenous Peoples, so that the rebels would be denied additional recruits.

With the lifting of the government ceasefire, the AFP chief said they can now plan the rescue of the three soldiers abducted in Surigao del Norte and Sultan Kudarat early this week.

“Before, (the unilateral ceasefire) prevented us from conducting rescue operations. Now we plan to conduct operations,” Año said.

President Duterte announced last Friday in North Cotabato the end of the government ceasefire with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its military wing, the NPA, effective midnight of the same day, reiterating that the rebels are asking too much for the past several months his administration has been talking peace with them.

The President’s declaration came after the NPA announced on Feb. 1 its own lifting of a unilateral ceasefire with the government after the Duterte administration allegedly failed to release all political prisoners and the pullout of government troops in communities in the countryside.

“I have walked the extra mile. I have no other desire but peace, if you don’t want it, I can do nothing about it,” the President told the crowd as he led the switch-on ceremony of the first-ever P5 million prototype solar powered irrigation system in remote Barangay New Janiuay in M’lang, North Cotabato.

The solar irrigation project would benefit some 500 poor Christian and Muslim farmers in Janiuay village in M’lang and the near environs.

Apart from his declaration of lifting the ceasefire with the communist rebels, the President made clear that he would never talk peace with terrorists, in apparent referral to the Maute terror group operating in Butig, Lanao del Sur.

“However, with Nur Misuari of the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation front, I am ready to talk federalism,” he said.

“Believe me, there would be no peace in Mindanao if you won’t allow federalism. You will break the country,” the President said referring to “the people in Manila”, refusing to amend the 1986 Constitution.

The President then addressed soldiers during his speech to take their positions and stay alert against NPA attacks.

“We may be fighting for the next 50 years. If I disappoint the military and the police, I would be in trouble,” he stressed.

The President said the series of recent NPA attacks has cost lives of military and police troopers.

“I have lost many soldiers during the last 48 hours,” he said.

He then called on state forces, “ Go back to your camps, clean your rifles and get ready for battle.”