193 NPA attacks in Mindanao in 2018, AFP official says

MANILA, Philippines — There were 193 New People’s Army (NPA)-initiated “violent incidents” in 2018 in Mindanao alone, a military official told the Supreme Court Tuesday.

The high court is currently conducting an oral argument on the petition to nullify the third martial law extension in Mindanao.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence Pablo Lorenzo gave the high court justices a briefing on the various incidents in Mindanao that necessitates another martial law declaration.

Lorenzo said the NPA has stepped up its annihilative attacks following the call of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison to take up arms against the government.

During his presentation, he said Sison’s statement is “tantamount to the crime of inciting to rebellion when he blatantly calls upon the CPP-NPA-NDF forces and their allies to cause public uprising and taking up arms against the government.”

Based on the data presented before the high court, he said in 2018, there were 111 “violent incidents” initiated by the NPA in Visayas and 65 incidents have been recorded in Luzon.

Oral argument is still ongoing. /je