CPP orders NPA to escalate attacks vs gov’t forces nationwide

SHOW OF FORCE New People’s Army guerrillas have their faces painted to hide their identities during the celebration of the 42nd anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines last December on Mt. Diwata. The guerrillas, who have been fighting a rebellion rooted in agrarian unrest for decades, have been declared terrorists by President Duterte. —AP

LUCENA CITY – The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has ordered its armed wing, New People’s Army (NPA), to intensify its attack against government forces across the country as Congress approved the third extension of martial law in Mindanao.

“The CPP calls on the New People’s Army to mount tactical offensives across the country in response to the extension of martial law in Mindanao,” the CPP said in a statement on Wednesday.

The CPP tasked all Maoist-inspired guerillas “to exert all possible effort to punish the worst fascist units and officers of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) who have committed grave crimes against the people.”

Earlier, the Senate and House of Representatives granted the request of President Rodrigo Duterte to extend martial law in Mindanao for another year or until the end of December 2019.

The government declared martial law in Mindanao last year after the ISIS-Maute terrorist group attacked Marawi City, causing massive destruction and unrest in the region.

The martial rule in Mindanao was supposed to end on December 31 this year.

The CPP strongly condemned the country’s lawmakers for allowing the extension of military rule in Mindanao.

“Further extension of military rule will result in more killings, abductions, torture and worse abuses against the people,” the CPP said.

It also warned: “Everyone who voted in favor of extending martial rule in Mindanao will have their names tainted with the blood of each and every victim of Duterte’s all-out war.”

The CPP raised concern that with the extension of martial law in Mindanao, “the AFP is set on heightening its election meddling in order to manipulate the midterm polls to favor pro-Duterte and pro-AFP candidates.”  /kga