Office of the Presidential Adviser in the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza refrained from giving a statement regarding the January 21 clash between government troops and elements of the rebel New People’s Army in Makilala, North Cotabato.
In a press statement, Dureza said that he will verify first the real story behind the encounter.
“I have to verify first what actually happened, but from initial reports reaching me here in New York City, a bilateral ceasefire with guidelines and mechanisms in place are becoming all the more needed,” he said.
The encounter resulted in eight army soldiers and an unidentified NPA element killed.
The encounter took place while the Government of the Philippines and representatives of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines were holding peace negotiations in Rome.
The clash took place despite the unilateral ceasefire agreed by both parties.
He said that if the bilateral ceasefire will not be in place, the armed Forces of the Philippines and the NPA will create different versions favorable in their side.
Dureza said it would be more favorable for the both parties if there will be a bilateral ceasefire, since there will be an independent monitoring team that will conduct their own investigation and can recommend a possible sanction.
“In a bilateral ceasefire, independent monitors conduct their own independent investigations, submit reports with possible sanctions imposed, if warranted,” he said.
He added that the best practice in the peace engagements with the angsamoro can be instructive to both sides.
According to the Military, the 39IB together with the Police personnel of the Makilala Municipal Police Station responded to an alleged harassment by the NPA to a truck driver in an attempt to extort money from a construction company.
10th Infantry Division spokesperson Capt. Rhyan Batchar said in a statement that the rebels fired at the responding authorities around 5PM in the afternoon at Brgy. Biangan, Makilala, North Cotabato. The firefight lasted for about an hour.
The following day, at around 5:30 in the morning, while the soldiers were scouring at the site of the incident, the rebels once again fired at them that lasted for about 30 minutes.
However, for the part of the NPA-Southern Mindanao spokesperson Rigoberto Sanchez said that it was the 39th IB that launched an offensive at Sitio Lokatong in Brgy. Biangan where an NPA unit was encamped.
“Having monitored the enemy’s movement, Red fighters promptly maneuvered to avoid armed encounters,” Sanchez said in a statement.
