News Briefs: Jan. 30, 2019
NPA land mine kills cop, wounds 7 others
A police officer was killed and at least seven others were wounded in a roadside bombing perpetrated by communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels on Monday.
The North Cotabato police, in a report, said two patrol cars loaded with policemen were at a checkpoint when a remotely detonated land mine exploded in Magpet town.
Senior Insp. Rolando Dillera, Magpet police chief, said a PO1 Anadon, who was driving one of the patrol cars, died of severe wounds at a hospital in Kidapawan City.
Four other officers were being treated for blast injuries. The blast came after government soldiers claimed they killed an NPA rebel in a clash also in Magpet.
Police said the roadside bombing was a retaliatory act by NPA. —Edwin O. Fernandez
Peace talks with Reds: Duterte changes mind again
President Rodrigo Duterte appears to have changed his mind again about resuming peace talks with communist rebels.
The President said he would “never talk” to communist rebels again after declaring he would never negotiate with terror groups.
“Same with the NPA. I will never talk to you. I can’t do anything about it,” the President said.
He made the remarks during his visit to Jolo to condole with families of victims of the bombings there.
Earlier this month, the President said he had not shut the door to peace talks with communist rebels. —Julie M. Aurelio
Bello vows to convince Duterte to help Hanjin workers
With no government subsidy in sight for 3,000 Hanjin workers facing layoffs as the Korean shipbuilder tries to overcome bankruptcy via a court-approved rehabilitation plan, President Rodrigo Duterte was asked to use a special fund to help the workers back on their feet.
This was among the commitments given by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III in a dialogue on Monday with leaders of the Samahan ng mga Manggagawa ng Hanjin and their support groups, according to Primo Amparo, spokesperson of the labor center Workers for People’s Liberation.
Bello had promised to help the workers get separation pay and recover the 3 percent employment bond deducted from them by Hanjin Training Center. —Tonette Orejas
