NDFP calls on AFP to stop operations during peace talks By Mario J. Mallari 02/05/2011

NDFP calls on AFP to stop operations during peace talks

By Mario J. Mallari 02/05/2011

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) is calling for the prohibition of civil military operations (CMO) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and pull back of troops to their regional barracks during the resumption of the peace negotiations this month.

In an urgent message to the NDFP chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni, the NDFP principals pointed out that in many barangays the CMO operations, AFP troops harass the communities, threatening the residents who resisted being recruited into the Cafgu, listing them as “sympathizers” of the New People’s Army (NPA) and putting them on the AFP’s Order of Battle.

These CMO operations, the NDFP leaders claimed, are in effect military operations which are part of the government’s anti-people and counter-insurgency scheme.

Jalandoni, in a letter to government chief negotiator Alexander Padilla, stated “our negotiating panel considers it imperative that AFP and PNP units be brought back to regional and provincial barracks respectively during the ceasefire and if any patrols have to be undertaken, these patrols be limited to the immediate vicinity of the AFP and PNP barracks.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110205nat1.html