Palace calls NPA rebels ‘traitors’ for attacking soldiers on humanitarian mission

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in news briefing at Malacañang last Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. (Photo by JOAN BONDOC / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Malacañang is angry at the New People’s Army (NPA) for ambushing soldiers on a mission to help people affected by Tropical Storm “Urduja” in Northern Samar on Sunday.

READ: 2 soldiers injured in ambush by NPA rebels in Northern Samar

“Iyan po talaga ay hindi lang nakakalungkot, nakakagalit,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview aired over radio DZRH on Monday. “Iyan po ay talagang patunay na traydor po talaga ang CPP-NPA.”

Roque called the NPA  “traitors.”

Last Dec. 5, President Rodrigo Duterte issued a proclamation tagging the NPA and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) as terrorist groups.

“Alam niyo po sa batas ng labanan iyong tinatawag na International Humanitarian Law. Kung ikaw ay sundalo, kapag ikaw naman ay gumagawa ng isang makataong bagay – humanitarian mission – ay hindi po dapat inaatake. Iyan po ay isang war crime na tinatawag,” he said.

“Pero iyan po talaga ang problema natin sa NPA: Hindi po sila lumalaban sang-ayon sa batas na umiiral pagka ganoong labanan. At sila po talaga ay hindi mapapagkakatiwalaan,” he added.

The two inured soldiers belong to the 20th Infantry Battalion, which is commanded by Col. Noli Lapizar.

They were part of a team of 14 soldiers who were on their way to Barangay Hinagoyonon, Catubig in Northern Samar on Saturday afternoon to help residents affected by flooding caused by Urduja.

/atm