Philippine military pledges to hit hard leftist rebels

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) vowed Friday to go after the leftist rebels who are engaged in criminal activities following President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to lift the unilateral ceasefire with them.

"We will go after the NPA (New People's Army) to prevent them from conducting atrocities and criminal activities against the public. And we will hit them hard," said AFP chief of staff Eduardo Ano in a text message to reporters.

He said the military welcomed the president's pronouncement of lifting the truce because "AFP has to do its mandate of protecting the people, securing the community and taking care of our own soldiers too."

"It is unfortunate that the gains of the last six months would come to a halt because the CPP-NPA again resorted to the use of violence and chose arms to advance their interests," Ano said.

Duterte cancelled the government's unilateral ceasefire following the deaths of six soldiers and abduction of three others, which were allegedly perpetrated by the leftist rebels.

The leftist rebel group first announced its decision to cancel its own ceasefire by Feb. 10 after the government failed to release the 400 political detainees.

But despite the lifting of the government's truce, Ano assured that the military will continue to support the peace talks with the National Democratic Front, the political wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA, "to find a permanent peaceful solution to this four decades long conflict." Endit