MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is conducting a full dress probe to identify and file charges against suspected communist rebels behind a recent attack that killed a 10-year-old boy (not 9-year-old as earlier reported) in a remote village in Northern Samar.
The boy died during the April 17 attack in the village of Las Navas after an improvised explosive device (IED) lobbed by the suspected rebels detonated.
READ: 9-year-old boy killed in Northern Samar explosion
In a statement released on Friday, the PNP said a probe is already underway to identify and build a strong case against the suspected members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) responsible for the attack.
“A full-dress investigation is underway to identify and build a strong case that we will present in court against CPP-NPA personalities responsible in the IED attack,” the PNP said.
According to the PNP, Police Regional Office 8 chief Brigadier General Dionardo Carlos was ordered to conduct the “speedy investigation” to identify the suspects involved and file appropriate charges against them.
“This latest atrocity by the communist terrorists in Northern Samar is apparently a vain attempt to regain lost ground after a recent series of tactical defeats in Eastern Visayas lately,” the PNP said.
Meanwhile, the PNP said it remains on full alert as part of the ongoing security preparations in the upcoming May 13 polls.
“We will not allow any threat group and the enemies of the state any inch of ground to promote their lost cause and disrupt the May 13 midterm elections,” it said. /muf