By Francis T. Wakefield
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday said he will not recommend Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) against the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF) this Holiday Season.
“No, I will not, I will not,” Lorenzana told reporters during an interview shortly after attending the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Year-End Council Meeting.
“Because there was an order by their commanders to intensify operations against us. So kung mag SOMO kami and we will stand down then they will attack us again,” he explained.
Lorenzana said despite the SOMO being a yearly tradition, they always have the option to break it.
The defense chief went on to deny reports President Duterte ordered them to launch deliberate offensives against the CPP-NPA.
“Not at all. His order is to shoot armed NPAs so we have been doing that all along even before. If they are armed and they fight we will also fight back (and) we shoot them,” he said.
