The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday condemned the attacked staged by New People’s Army terrorists on a military convoy carrying relief aid to victims of tropical storm “Urduja” in Eastern Visayas, wounding two soldiers.

“We condemn this attack. It only manifested the true color of these communist terrorists,” AFP spokesperson and Public Affairs chief Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo said in a statement.

“This only validated the aptness of government’s decision to terminate the peace negotiations and to discontinue the traditional Christmas truce,” he added.

Lt. Michelle Estares, Civil-Military Operations officer of the 20th Infantry Battalion, said troops from the 20th IB were on their way to Brgy. Hinagonoyan in Catubig, Northern Samar when they were engaged by more or less 50 NPAs at about 3:20 p.m. Sunday. The gunfight lasted for two hours.

Those wounded were identified as CorporalYzazel M. Laure and Pfc. Ronald L. Gomez.

Molesting women

Meanwhile, President Duterte revealed that he has received information NPA terrorists are now molesting women in the hinterlands.

“I have been receiving reports kayong mga komunista (that you communists), you’re roaming around everywhere and some of you, I have some reports from anywhere, you are into molesting or sexually abusing ‘yung mga tao sa bukid (those in the farms),” Duterte said.

“Hinihipo ninyo ‘yung mga babae at ‘yung iba, ninanakaw ninyo ang asawa (You are touching women while some are stealing a person’s wife). Is that the kind of revolution [you are into]?” he added.

Duterte said he cannot tolerate this act and reiterated his firm stand against dealing with communist rebels, saying he will give the fight they want.

In his speech, Duterte shared that the CPP wanted to have power sharing, something he cannot oblige because they are not duly chosen by the people.

“Gusto nila (What they want is) to share the power. You know, sovereignty is what is really the meat of a Republic. It is where I get the power representing the people,” he said.

Mass surrender

In Southern Mindanao, at least 290 members of the Underground Mass Organization (UGMO) of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (NPA) voluntarily surrendered during the three-day mass surrender campaign conducted by the Army’s 66th Infantry Battallion (66th IB) since December 12.

Lt. Col. Palmer Parungao, commanding officer of the 66th IB, the 701st Brigade said of the 290 cadres, 200 were male while 90 were females who yielded 34 low and high powered firearms.

The surrendered firearms were a Carbine rifle, four caliber .45 pistol, one caliber 22 pistol, three caliber 22mm rifle, six Magnum 357 pistol, nine12-gauge shotgun, six Air Gun, four improvised guns and one improvised explosive device (IED).

In Sultan Kudarat, four NPA terrorists surrendered and turned over two M-16 Armalite rifles, a homemade Uzi and an improvised explosive device. (With reports from Mike U. Crismundo and Ali G. Macabalang)

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Francis Wakefield

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