The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it strongly supports President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s announcement for a unilateral ceasefire against the CPP-NPA-NDF.
CPP-NPA-NDF refers to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front.
“The Commander-in-Chief has initiated a very bold move and we fully support him in his efforts to bring sustainable and lasting peace to our whole country,” AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said.
Duterte made this call during his first ever State-of-the-Nation Address at the House of Representatives in Batasan Hills, Quezon City Monday.
“The AFP will abide by the Commander-in-Chief’s instruction but will remain alert, vigilant and ready to defend itself & pursue attackers if confronted by armed elements of the NPA,” Padilla added.
“The government has shown its sincerity and we expect no less from the other party. Our people long for and deserve peace and we shall work diligently as we have been doing all these years to deliver just that,” the AFP spokesperson stressed. (Priam F. Nepomuceno/PNA)
