DND to comply with PRRD’s holiday truce directive

FILE: Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the military would follow President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive regarding the suspension of military operations (SOMO) against the New People’s Army (NPA) communist terrorists.

“Well, we will follow the directive of the President kung nag-ano siya (SOMO issuance). I was actually adamant (on that), I did not recommend for the cessation of military operation against the (NPA) but if the President declared (that) so then, we are going to implement and abide by the directive of the President,” he added.

On Tuesday night, the President, through Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, announced that the SOMO would last from Dec. 24, 2017 to Jan. 2, 2018.

“This unilateral ceasefire would lessen the apprehension of the public this Christmas season. We expect that the CPP-NPA-NDFP would do a similar gesture of goodwill,” he added.

“Christmas holds a special place in the hearts of our countrymen. In the observance of this occasion, we hope that all Filipinos would stand together as one nation and aspire for peace in our beloved Philippines,” Roque added. (PNA)