Duterte has final say on holiday truce with communist rebels: Palace

By Prince Golez

President Rodrigo Duterte will look into the recommendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) not to declare a holiday ceasefire with communist rebels, his spokesman said.

In a virtual presser Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte gives “a lot of weight” to the recommendations made by the military.

“Ako po’y tagapagsalita lamang, I cannot second guess the decision of the President. But ang ma-a-assure ko sa inyo yung mga ganyang rekomendasyon ng AFP, the President gives it a lot of weight,” said Roque.

“Pakikinggan po iyan, but ultimately it is only the President who will decide,” he added.

In a press statement yesterday, AFP spokesperson Edgard Arevalo said the AFP is not inclined to recommend a truce, citing citing ceasefire violations committed by the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

“During the incumbency of a truce, these terrorists continued their extortion activities and committed crimes of murder, arson, and the likes,” he said.

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