Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella and Armed Forces of the Philippines Spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla. FILE PHOTO / MALACANANG
Malacañang on Friday advised the public to be vigilant as the government warned of the reported planned attacks by the New People’s Army (NPA).
“We wish to forewarn the public of (the) reported planned attacks of the NPA on people-oriented programs and infrastructure projects. We request the citizenry of Mindanao and everyone else in the country to be on the alert and on the lookout,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said during the Mindanao Hour in Davao City.
Abella called on the public to be alert and report to authorities suspicious persons in their locality.
“We also appeal to everyone to share information with authorities on suspicious persons and activities in their communities. If we work together, we can prevent these extortion-related activities,” he said.
But the Palace official said there were no other details regarding the NPA’s planned attacks.
“We don’t have details about the planned attacks except the warning is that we should be vigilant and careful about our surroundings,” he said.
“Makinig tayo lalo na sa mga bara-barangay, sa mga further directives ng mga local authorities (Let’s keep our ears open especially in the barangay level, regarding further directives of local authorities),” he added.
Abella earlier said that the government is “disturbed” by the recent attacks of communist rebels even after the National Democratic Front (NDF) ordered its armed wing to refrain from launching offensive against state forces.
READ: Continued NPA offensive vs gov’t ‘puzzles’ Palace
He noted the “several serious offensives” of the communist rebels against government troops and civilians in the past few weeks.
On June 17, the military engaged NPA rebels in a firefight in Cateel, Davao Oriential where three rebels died. On the same day, the military again clashed with the rebels at Pantukan, Compostella Valley.
On June 18, around 40 rebels attacked a police station in Maasin town in Iloilo and took 12 firearms, including eight high-powered rifles. JPV