The Armed Forces of the Philippines denied accusations that its units violated its unilateral truce following the encounter in Makilala town, North Cotabato which resulted in the death of one New People’s Army rebel during the weekend.
“The troops did not violate the unilateral ceasefire declaration; it has complied with to the Suspension-Of-Military Operations (SOMO),” Ltc. Harold Argamosa of the 39th Infantry Division told the reporters Wednesday.
The SOMO took effect in August 2016 when the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and National Democratic Front (NDF) finally agreed to resume peace negotiations.
According to Argamosa, the law enforcement agencies only responded to the reports that a “lawless armed group” in Makilala, North Cotabato was seen massing after it divested the keys of a 10-wheeler truck driven by Delio Tongcos of the Santos Land Development Corporation along Barangay Malasila road.
The armed group allegedly identified themselves as members of the NPA.
The troops recovered three high-powered rifles, several personal belongings “and the body of an unidentified man at the encounter site.”
“No casualty on the government forces side,” Argamosa added, adding that extortion was believed to be the motive behind the incident,” Argamosa said.
North Cotabato Provincial Police Director P/Supt. Emmanuel, for his part, explained that the SOMO is in support to operations when requested by other law enforcement agencies which include the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“It is purely law enforcement operation only,” he reiterated.
But NPA-Southern Mindanao spokesperson Rigoberto Sanchez said that what happened in Makilala was a ceasefire violation.
Sanchez told Edge Davao in an email that Sitio Lokatong in Brgy. Biangan is a “remote area that their presence can only mean an offensive operation against the NPA; furthermore, they fool no one by claiming that their combat operation was only in response to reports by local authorities of the presence of lawless groups; for the entire day, they actively maneuvered to engage the evading unit of the NPA.”
The biggest impediment to just and lasting peace, Sanchez said, is “the bullish insincerity of its armed forces to continue its counter-insurgency campaign that is the greatest obstacle in the quest for just and lasting peace.”
