Suspected NPAs attack Davao Oriental town hall, police station

DAVAO CITY – Suspected New People’s Army rebels simultaneously attacked the municipal hall and the police headquarters of Governor Generoso town in Davao Oriental on Sunday evening.

Capt. Rhyan Batchar, spokesperson of the military’s 10th Infantry Division, confirmed the 8 p.m. attack.

“We still do not have the complete details right now, but the firefight is still ongoing,” Batchar told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

New People’s Army. FILE PHOTO

Batchar said government forces have been fighting back and have been trying to push the rebels out.

The province of Davao Oriental is a known hotbed of the communist insurgency in the country and is one of the focus areas of the military’s counter-insurgency operations.

Incoming President Rodrigo Duterte earlier vowed to pursue and accelerate the peace negotiations to finally put an end to the conflict.

Duterte said that the ongoing conflict has already caused too much damage not just to the military and the rebels but also to the civilians.  SFM