Friday 19 / April / 2024
Muscat: The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday alerted all field units to conduct counter-actions against members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) following recent attacks against police officers in various provinces.
Police maneuver forces in Negros Island, the fourth largest in the Philippines, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, launched a manhunt for a group of some 40 armed men who set on fire a bulldozer and a back hoe Barangay Bolisong, Manjuyod, Negros Oriental on the evening of Oct. 18.
Local officials of Negros Oriental denounced this latest communist atrocity saying it is an obstacle to development because it stalled the ongoing roadworks project of a vital farm-to-market road in the province.
“Those behind this crime are resisting entry of development in the countryside that would have ushered government presence and availability of goods and services that will benefit people in the barrios,” PNP chief, Director General Albayalde said in a statement.
In a separate incident, three policemen were killed while three others were wounded in an ambush by suspected NPA rebels in Barangay Napolidan, on Oct. 18. Two days earlier, suspected communist rebels also ambushed a group of policemen in Aurora which resulted in the death of one officer.
“We condemn these latest acts of lawless terror by the local communist movement against symbols of government authority. We mourn their loss, but assure the ends of justice will be served,” Albayalde said.
“This is not only an attack on the police, but an assault on a national agency that protects consumer welfare,” he added.
(From Philippines News Agency)
