Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte is getting the support of the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) to exempt the city from the 15-day ceasefire with the communist rebels.
On Thursday afternoon, the CPOC pushed for the exemption of Davao City from the ceasefire and the Suspension of Military Operation (SOMO).
The ceasefire and SOMO is observed from December 23, 2019 to January 7, 2020.
Mayor Inday said the passage of resolution seeking exemption from the declaration is based on the records showing violations by the communist insurgents of previous SOMO and ceasefires.
“When there is a SOMO there is an increase of activities on the part of the NPA, they continue their recruitment and some other areas. Historically that is what we see on the data,” the mayor said.
Mayor Inday said the city will request the Office of the President to exclude Davao City from the declaration to counter atrocities by the New People’s Army (NPA) – the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
“There were incidents in Camarines Sur and Iloilo despite the declaration of SOMO we do not want the same incident to happen in the city,” she said.
1003rd Infantry Brigade commander Colonel Nolasco Mempin said the exemption is beneficial to the city which already significant results in combating insurgency in the countryside through Peace 911.
Mempin said the request of Mayor Inday is greatly respected by the military forces.
“Base on the situation on the ground and the wisdom of our political leaders we respect and agree on the stand of the mayor. we also recognized the need to keep the security forces safe from any possible attack of the rebel group,” Mempin said. CIO
