Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS / INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said it was expecting more attacks from the communist rebels ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address (Sona).
“We are expecting that,” PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa told reporters in a briefing.
On Monday, the PNP chief bared an alleged plan of the New People’s Army (NPA) to step up its attacks in Davao City before the holding of the Sona.
Four members of the Presidential Security Group were wounded in an ambush staged by the NPA in North Cotabato on Wednesday, prompting the postponement of the back-channeling of the peace talks, which was supposedly set this week in Europe.
READ: Duterte security men ambushed in North Cotabato; 6 wounded
Dela Rosa welcomed Duterte’s decision to call off the peace talks with communist rebels.
“Sa totoo lang, I just go by the decisions of the national leadership. Pag sinabi ng President na ‘yes,’ eh yes din kami. Pag sinabi niyang ‘no,’ eh di no din kami (To tell you the truth, I just go by the decisions of the national leadership. When the President says ‘yes,’ we are one in saying yes as well, when he says ‘no,’ we are also in unison in saying no),” he said.
“You want yung personal ko? Gusto ko ng kapayapaan (I want peace), but not at the expense of our people, not by holding our punches back, itatali tayo, hindi pwede yun (we will be tied, we’ll not allow that). We have to fight back. Makipagsuntukan tayo hindi yung itatali ang kamay natin (We will be exchanging punches, not allow our hands to be tied),” he also said.
Dela Rosa said they have directed the commanders to be vigilant aside from being pro-active.
“They should operate in coordination with the Philippine Army. Aside from that, pinabilisan ko yung pag-issue ng armas sa kanila yung 2,900 rifles from China (I want a swift issuance of arms for them, the 2,900 rifles from China),” he added.
For the Sona’s rally in Batasan on Monday, Dela Rosa said they have not monitored any direct threat. JPV