Ni Francis T. Wakefield
Sinabi kahapon ni Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana na hindi niya irerekomenda ang Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) sa Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF) ngayong magpa-Pasko.
Sa press press briefing sa Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, sinabi ni Lorenzana na wala siyang planong irekomenda na pansamantalang itigil ang military operations laban sa mga komunista.
“No, I will not, I will not,” sinabi ni Lorenzana sa mga mamamahayag sa isang panayam matapos dumalo sa National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Year-End Council Meeting.
Romina, patuloy na kumikilos pahilaga; hindi na nakaaapekto sa Kalayaan Islands
“Because there have been, 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,” paliwanag ng kalihim.
Aniya, sa kabila ng taunang tradisyon, maaari nilang hindi gawin ang nakasanayan.
Kaugnay nito, pinabulaanan ni Lorenzana na inatasan ni Pangulong Duterte ang militar na maglunsad ng planado at pinaghandaang opensiba laban sa 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,” paglilinaw ni Lorenzana.
