DILG condemns NPA attack during ‘Odette’ evacuation in Surigao del Sur
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) condemned on Wednesday an alleged attack by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) during a preemptive evacuation for Typhoon Odette in Surigao del Sur.
Surigao del Sur Governor Alexander Pimentel said NPA fighters attacked police and military personnel who were assisting in the preemptive evacuation.
“Hilingin ko sana ‘yung mga NPA na ‘wag gagalawin ‘yung mga kapulisan natin at saka army na tumutulong sa evacuation center. ‘Wag niyong ambush-in. Tignan mo ‘yung nangyari ngayon, tatlo namatay, mga sibilyan,” he said during the Laging Handa briefing.
(I would like to appeal to the NPA to not touch our police and army personnel who are helping in the evacuation center. Don’t ambush them. Look at what happened today, three civilians were killed)
DILG spokesperson and Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya denounced the incident.
Article continues after this advertisement“Kinalulungkot po namin ito at kino-condemn po namin ito dahil wala naman po itong magandang naidudulot sa ating bansa bagkus sa panahon pandemya at panahon ng bagyo kung saan tayo ay kailangan magtulungan, itong mga komunistang teroristang grupo ay naghahasik pa ng lagim,” he said on the same briefing.
Article continues after this advertisement(We are saddened and we condemn this because it has no good outcome in our country wherein in the time of pandemic and typhoon when we should be helping one another, this terrorist communist group attacks)
Malaya appealed to the NPA to set aside their personal interests.
“So, nananawagan po kami sa kanila na sana naman unahin nila ang bansa bago ang kanilang pansariling mga interes na imbis na makatulong pa sila, sila pa ngayon ang sumisira sa magandang ginagawa ng ating pamahalaan,” he pleaded.
(We appeal to them to put the country first before their personal interests, instead of helping, they are destroying the good acts of the government.)
Pimentel, meanwhile, is calling for a temporary ceasefire to prevent more casualties.
“Magtulungan tayo, kapwa tayo Pilipino. ‘Wag tayo magpatayan,” he said.
(Let us help one another, we are Filipinos. Let us not kill each other.)
“Saka kung pwede mag-ceasefire muna tayo, December na tsaka nag-e-evacuate tayo ng mga tao kung pwede lang, ‘yun ang hiling ko, para wala na tayong casualties sana po,” Pimentel continued.
(If possible, let us have a ceasefire, it’s already December, and we are evacuating the people. That is what I ask for to have no casualties.)
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