Christmas spirit fails to avert NPA attack in Iloilo town
Communist terrorist New People's Army (NPA) has no time to be joyful even at the merriest month of the year.
In fact, with the holiday ceasefire and short-term truce yet to be firmed up, NPAs in Southern Iloilo busied themselves burning at least two public utility vans. And why? Government probers believed it was "payback" for not heeding an earlier extortion attempt for some "revolutionary taxes."
As such, forces of the Philippine Army (PA) were dispatched here in pursuit of the communist terrorists numbering to at least 15.
The News Today (TNT) got the confirmation from Captain Lowen Gil Marquez, commanding officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 3rd Civil Relations Group.
"Please help us get the message across our peace-loving communities – let us denounce the evil acts of the communist terrorists NPAs," Captain Marquez appealed. "Two vans of Susie Stars Company were totally damaged as a result of the latest criminal act of the group. We have our men on the ground in pursuit of the communist terrorists."
Crime scene was a secluded area of Sitio Kipot, Barangay Frantilla in Miag-ao, Iloilo.
Fortunately, no one was hurt in the incident.
Meantime, no final word yet on the AFP-proposed short-term truce as news wires await the okay of Malacañang and the NPA's to halt offensives.
To note, the AFP wanted a short term ceasefire following continued offensives of NPAs. Reports of countryside attacks is believed have claimed at least 27 government soldiers since November 17.
The AFP is concerned that any longer-term truce will allow the communist terrorists to take advantage of the ceasefire using such to recruit, to retrain or in some cases, to build or establish satellite camps.
If heeded, the AFP-preferred ceasefire will only be on Christmas Day (December 25 and New Year's Day, January 1 and will be the shortest ever in history.
Come December 26th, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) marks its 37th founding anniversary normally "highlighted" with attacks on government targets.