Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Wednesday that he is not in favor of the suspension of military operations against the New People’s Army in observance of the holiday season.
“No. I have objected to a SOMO. We shall not allow the CPP to use a SOMO to celebrate their 50th anniversary,” Lorenzana said.
Lorenzana also rejected calls from the NPA for a unilateral ceasefire. “That’s their call. We are not keen on a ceasefire,” he said.
AFP Public Affairs chief Col. Noel Detoyato said they will support the decision of the Defense Secretary not to declare a SOMO. “We support the stand of SND,” he said.
The CPP will celebrate its 50th founding anniversary on Dec. 26.
Meanwhile, three soldiers were wounded when government troops overran a temporary NPA encampment in Barangay San Bueno, Sampaloc, Quezon last Tuesday.
Lt. Col. Jonathan S. Manio, commanding officer of the Army 1st Infantry Battalion, said they received an intelligence report and information from civilians about the NPA’s presence and their ongoing extortion activities in the area.
Manio said they mounted an operation and were approaching the camp when a gun battle ensued against more or less 20 NPA rebels that lasted for almost 30 minutes.
Three soldiers were wounded while there were an undetermined number of casualties on the NPA side. (Francis T. Wakefield)