Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Eleazar. Senate PRIB file photo / Joseph Vidal
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday placed local authorities in Northern Samar on high alert following alleged members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) carried out separate attacks.
This order came after suspected NPA rebels killed a soldier and barangay captain in separate incidents in northern Samar.
Meanwhile, PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar condemned the attacks, even described the perpetrators as terrorists.
“Talagang hindi titigil ang mga teroristang ito sa paghahasik ng kaguluhan at karahasan sa ating mga komunidad sa kanilang kagustuhan na ipakita na malakas pa din ang kanilang puwersa. Pilit nilang pinagtatakpan ang katotohanan na mahina na sila at wala nang makuhang suporta para sa kanilang walang saysay na pagsulong ng armadong pakikipaglaban,” Eleazar said in a statement.
(These terrorists will definitely stop at nothing to sow chaos and violence in our communities in their desire to show that their force is still strong. They try to cover up the fact that they are weak and have no support for their futile efforts to advance their armed struggle.)
“Nakagagalit na mga inosenteng sibilyan ang tinatarget ng CPP-NPA sa kanilang mga pag-atake. Palibhasa’y wala nang maniwala sa kanilang panloloko at propaganda,” he added.
(It is infuriating that the CPP-NPA is targeting innocent civilians in their attacks. Because no one believes in their deception and propaganda anymore.)
Eleazar said hot pursuit operations, in close coordination with the military, are ongoing for the rebels’ capture.
On July 9, Private First Class John Vincent Bocaboc was killed when his team was engaged in an exchange of gunfire with at least 10 suspected NPA members in Barangay Victory Las Navas, Northern Samar.
On July 10, Barangay San Andres chairman Crispin Nali Mordido was shot dead by the rebels in Barangay Lourdes.
According to authorities, Mordido was reportedly invited by the communist rebels to a dialogue, but was set up and killed after a gunfight.
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