DAVAO CITY—The fighting between the military and the communist rebels continued as their respective peace panels were yet to declare a unilateral ceasefire.
On Saturday, the military launched an air strike in Mabini in Compostela Valley after a firefight between the combatants injured three soldiers.
President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered the military to go all out against the rebels and to use the government’s newly purchased fighter planes to “flatten the hills.”
Five policemen were also wounded after a police contingent reinforcing their beleaguered comrades were ambushed by about 30 rebels at the Malibcong police station in Abra on Sunday afternoon.
The rebels carted away 10 firearms, ammunition, personal belongings and office equipment after they overwhelmed the policemen around 7:30 p.m.
The Armed Forces said Monday the operations against the New People’s Army will continue until Duterte tells them otherwise and the peace talks resume between the government and the rebels.
“We will anxiously await the official message of our panel and the instructions of our Commander-in-Chief,” Armed Forces spokesman Restituto Padilla said.
“Pending this, all military operations will continue and remain at the current state.”
Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said the communist and government negotiators who agreed over the weekend to resume their peace talks next month should make good on their promise to observe a truce before the Holy Week in April.
“Whether unilaterally declared or mutually agreed, the people will welcome a break from the fighting,” Recto said.
“If their time frame of brokering a ceasefire before April will be met, the peace negotiators couldn’t have picked a better time.”
According to Exodus for Justice and Peace spokesman Jurie Jaime, about 5,000 peasants were displaced due to the recent air strikes by the 10-O-1st brigade on Saturday.
Jaime said the military conducted intensive operations against the rebels.
Meanwhile, 10th ID commander Major Gen. Rafael Valencia confirmed the air strike but denied 5,000 civilians were displaced.
He rejected Jaime’s claim and said the Local Government Unit of Mabini only recorded 75 families who were evacuated due to the fighting, and that they returned to their homes on Monday.
“Troops under the 10-O-1st brigade engaged the NPA in a firefight and requested air support to evacuate three wounded soldiers,” Valencia said.
He said no civilians were injured during the encounter.