In the wake of recent attacks against government forces done by members of the New People’s Army (NPA), incoming President Rodrigo Duterte said he hopes to enter into a ceasefire agreement with the group in the coming days.
It may be recalled that suspected NPA members ambushed government forces in Negros Occidental on Sat, May 28, killing at least one soldier with several others wounded. Then, on Sun, May 29, another group of suspected NPA rebels stormed the police station and municipal hall of Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental, wounding a policeman and abducting the town police chief.
The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). When CPP founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison was asked about the recent attacks against government forces, he said that attacks against government forces will continue for as long as President Noynoy Aquino is in power.”
READ: Joma Sison on NPA attacks: They’ll continue as long as PNoy is in power
Now, as the Duterte administration prepares to take over, peace talks are being set up between the national government and members of the communist movement.
“We hope to arrive at a sort of a truce in the coming days. There’s still a war going on and we cannot expect a prim and proper behavior on the either side. I cannot tell the [Philippine] Army to stop kasi wala pa naman ako [sa Malacañang],” Duterte said.
“Duterte said that he has already spoken with the commander of the NPA in the Davao Oriental area,” reports Trisha Macas on GMA News Online.
Just like before, Duterte is set to escort back home the individuals who were abducted.
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