Continued AFP counter-insurgency operations
and terrorism make a mockery of ceasefire--CPP*
CPP Information Bureau
December 29, 2010
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) decried numerous ceasefire violations by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as the latter continues to carry out aggressive counterinsurgency operations and terrorism in various places in the country. The 19-day reciprocal and concurrent holiday ceasefire between the AFP and the New People's Army (NPA) began on December 16, 2010 and will last until January 3, 2011.
"Local mass organizations and NPA units have reported that the AFP continues to carry out aggressive operations, terrorizing the masses in the guerrilla fronts where the NPA operates," said the CPP. "The AFP thus shows its scorn and mockery of the mutual ceasefire as its units continue to launch offensive military operations."
A partial report from the Ilocos-Cordillera Region listed the following violations:
a) On December 16, the 5th ID sent a special commando unit against target NPA forces and sympathizers along the boundary of Aguinaldo town in Ifugao and Natonin town in Mountain Province. The following day, the 5th ID's commando forces positioned themselves in Sitio Tappo, Brgy. Banawel, Natonin where offensive military operations, side-by-side with Civil-Military Operations (CMO) for cover, were then being conducted by a Re-engineered Special Operations Team (RSOT) of the 5th ID.
b) Offensive RSOT operations are now simultaneously being carried out in other barangays of Natonin, including Tonglayan, Alunugan, Botac, Balangaw, Banawel, Saliyok at Maducayan, and also in Bananao, Botigue and several other barangays of Paracelis town, also in Mountain Province. These special operations teams harass and threaten local residents suspected of being members or sympathizers of the NPA.
The CPP also disclosed that partial reports have been received from NPA units in the Southern Tagalog region, which include the following ceasefire violations by AFP forces:
a) On December 16-17, units under the Philippine Army's 5th Infantry Batallion (5th IBPA) carried out offensive military operations in Barangays White Cliff, Busuk-Busukan and San Juan, all in San Narciso town, Quezon.
b) On December 17, a 24-man platoon of the 85th IBPA conducted military operations in Sitio Mageron, Brgy. Nasalaan, San Francisco town, where they rounded up the menfolk and forced them to undress.
c) On December 22, operating troops from the detachment of the 74th IBPA in Brgy. Ilayang Tayuman in San Francisco town joined the operations of the 85th IBPA and harassed the residents of Barangays Sinagtala and Whitecliff in San Narciso town, maliciously taking pictures of the residents.
d) On December 23, military operations were also carried out in Brgy. San Pedro, Mulanay town, Quezon simultaneous with military operations in Brgy. Busuk-busukan in San Narciso.
e) Company-size military operations continue to be conducted by joint forces of the 85th IBPA and 74th IBPA in other barangays of San Narciso, including Binay, Busok-busokan, San Vicente and Vigo Central.
