Military to intensify operations in Compostela Valley

New People’s Army. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Following the release of abducted government surveyors in Compostela Valley, the military on Tuesday said it will intensify its insurgency operations there.

“The [Armed Forces of the Philippines] is ready to impose its forces shall it be needed, and exhaust all our efforts to put in the bars of justice, [New People’s Army] members who are guilty of these crimes,” military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala said in a statement.

Over the weekend, the NPA abducted five surveyors from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and released them on Monday.

Military data show that Compostela Valley is the province with the most number of communist rebels with about 500. There are still 4,000 insurgents throughout the country.

The military claimed that the NPA continues to participate in illegal activities such as small-scale mining, extortion and kidnapping in the Davao region.

Zagala said that the NPA “must be held accountable” for abducting the surveyors.

Last month, about 70 rebels belonging to the NPA’s Guerilla Front 2 and Pulang Bagani Command 6 took 39 civilians as human shields in Barangay (village) Golden Valley, Mabini Town.

The military said they are the same group behind the abduction in Maco town.

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