AN official of the Armed Forces’ Southern Luzon Command said the suspension of military operations against the communist New People’s Army remains in effect even with the declaration of a state of lawlessness.
“The SOMO will remain in effect,” said Maj. Virgilio J. Perez Jr., chief of Solcom’s public information office, in a press statement issued Saturday.
The communist rebels have declared an indefinite ceasefire following initial peace talks in Oslo, Norway in August between the government panel and the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army and National Democratic Front.
Perez said the AFP would continue to perform its mandate of protecting the people and the community through the conduct of security operations focused on the “neutralization of threats to national security.”
He identified these threats as the “Abu Sayyaf Group or ASG and other terrorist groups.”
Perez said the AFP would continue to protect the communities and ensure the security of government facilities and flagship projects against any armed attacks or sabotage.
He said they would continue to support law enforcement operations to ensure peace and stability in all areas and the “unhampered social, cultural, religious, political and economic activities in the region.
Reports from the Philippine News Agency showed that 15 people had died and 69 were injured in a bomb blast that rocked a city market in Davao City shortly before midnight Friday.
The Department of National Defense had given “full alert” orders to the AFP following the attack that was claimed by the ASG.
Lt. Gen. Ferdinand F. Quidilla, Solcom commander based in Camp Nakar, Lucena, Quezon, said they had “stepped up their security monitoring and close coordination with the Philippine National Police” due to the full alert orders.
“AFP-Solcom is vigilant and ready for any eventuality,” Quidilla said in a statement Saturday.
He assured that all forces under his command in the Southern Tagalog and Bicol regions are prepared and ready to undertake tasks to be issued by Duterte.