Clashes erupt between AFP troops, NPA
rebels 2 days after Duterte lifted truce

Clashes brokeout between between government troops and communist rebels, killing one of them in Surigao del Norte in the troubled southern Philippines barely two days after the lifting of unilateral ceasefire by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Military spokesman Brigadier General Restituto Padilla told reporters in Manila that a suspected member of the New People's Army was killed in a clash with Army troops in Malimano town Surigao del Norte province in the northern part of Mindanao at past 8 a.m. on ​Monday.

"The clashes that broke out were the first recorded fighting between government forces and communist rebels after President Rodrigo Duterte called off the unilateral ceasefire last Saturday," GMA News quoted Padilla as saying in the press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

According to Padilla, the five-minute clashes between the communist rebels and the Army’s 30th Infantry Battalion resulted in the death of one rebel and recovery of an AK-47 automatic rifle, two improvised explosive devices, assorted ammunition, magazines and food.

"There were no casualties recorded on the government side," he said, adding that police and military troops were responding to NPA extortion complaints before the clashes started near the Malimono City Hall.

Padilla said the rebels were supposed to pick up cash and supplies from the residents of Barangay (village) San Isidro and Binucayan but this was foiled by the state forces.

1st Lt. Ken Enciso, commander of the 30IB Bravo Company, was quoted as saying that during their dialogue with residents, they have learned that several sari-sari stores have closed due to extortion activity of NPAs.

Also 30IB Commander Lt. Col. Rico Amaro said the military as well as the police will not tolerate any extortion activities and called on members of the NPA to live peaceful lives.

"We will continue to reach out with our NPA brothers and sisters and convince them to live a peaceful life. We, however, will not tolerate criminal acts; together with the PNP and the vigilance of our community, through prompt reporting of concerned citizens, we can prevent future extortion activities of this group," Amaro said.

The military did not identify the victim, but the body will be turned over to a civilian authority before it is returned to its family for a decent burial, according to media reports.

The latest firefight between government forces and communist guerrillas was the second since Duterte declared a truce last July 25 during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), a move that could put an end to a five-decade communist insurgency.

A few days after declaring a truce with the CPP, the NPA ambushed government troops in Davao del Norte which left one government militiaman dead and three others injured.

On Saturday night, Duterte ordered police and military forces to resume all operations against the NPA after the deadline for the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to explain the ambush carried out by the NPA on government troops in Davao del Norte last week expired.

Despite this development, Duterte said he is still interested in pursuing peace talks with the communist rebel group after he revoked a unilateral ceasefire and ordered government forces to resume all operations against the Maoist insurgents.

"We are hoping that we can just talk. Maybe we did not understand each other," GMA News quoted Duterte as saying in a short statement delivered before new appointed officials took oath inside Rizal Hall in Malacañan Palace on Monday

"Best way really is to talk again and maybe find out if it's reachable or beyond our reach. I hope we can proceed with the talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines," he said.

On Sunday, at a meeting with members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and their families, the President said he offered to talk peace with every rebel group in the country so he could save lives.

"I am trying to save lives. I hit the ground running and offered peace to everybody, to the communists, to the [Moro Islamic Liberation Front]...I cannot go into [that] with the Abu Sayyaf. Those are the enemies that have to be destroyed," he was quoted as saying by ABS-CBN.

"We are spending billions and I hate to, you know, sign a paper nung mayor ako to buy bullets just to kill a Filipino," he said.

Instead of condemning the CPP for not immediately reciprocating the government's declaration of a unilateral ceasefire, Duterte explained that he understands the communist rebellion because he comes from a poor background.

"Ito namang mga komunista, kaibigan kami (This communists, we are friends). They are socialist but they are Communist Party of the Philippines. I am just socialist in my dimension kasi anak ako ng mahirap (because I am a son of poor). I hate government and anyone oppressing the people," he said.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza issued a similar statement “Let's wait and see. But so far, as of the moment, there is no supervening factor that will affect the upcoming talks in Oslo on August 20," according to an ABS-CBN report.

Dureza said the government will consult all sectors and military regarding the planned ceasefire of the CCP-NPA.

During an impromptu speech before the oath-taking of Malacañang appointees Monday, Duterte said: "I believe that as a nation, as people, as citizens of this country and knowing fully well the cost of fighting with each other... It's all a despicable thought to me but I hope that we can proceed with talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines."

The president stressed that he wants to have talks with the whole CPP community and not just with their founding chairman Joma Sison.

Duterte said he only wants the country to attain peace before he steps down at the end of his term in 2022 so he declared ceasefire and pulled out the soldiers, only to get ambushed.

"Ako pa ang namatayan, kami pa ngayon ang kontrabida? (I have lost life (I am bereaved), now we are still the villain?)," he asked in tagalog.

Sison, chief political consultant of the NDFP, earlier described Duterte a "very volatile" leader who rushes to decisions after lifting the ceasefire last weekend.

"Ayaw ni Duterte ng ceasefire, ayaw na rin niya ng peace negotiations, bahala siya! Pinakaayaw ng kilos rebolusyonaryo yung nambu-bully (Duterte doesn't want the ceasefire, he does not also want peace negotiations, it's up to him! The revolutionary movement does no really want who bully," ABS-CBN quoted Sison as saying.

The CPP said in a statement that it would issue a unilateral ceasefire declaration with the government on the resumption of peace talks in Oslo, Norway on August 20.

Duterte is also set to meet with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Mindanao for peace talks.

The president will meet with MNLF founder Nur Misuari in a few days to give rebel leaders safe conduct passes.

However, the president stressed that he will not hold talks with terrorist group Abu Sayyaf which he described as criminals.

"We will be going for the framework regarding the two factions (MILF and MNLF) but I'm very sorry to say that there will be no talks about these things with Abu Sayyaf. I will not deal with criminals. I will not deal (with) persons of extreme brutality. There is no redeeming factor or reason for me to sit down and talk with criminals," Duterte said. MGP News