AFP to 'people's orgs': 'Speak up vs terror attacks'
Silence means yes?
Hopefully not, or so it is for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) hierarchy as it called on supposed "people's organizations" and militant groups to 'speak up.' The AFP's call is relative to recent deadly offensives launched in Western Visayas region by communist terrorists New People's Army (NPA).
Speak up against the attacks and anarchic moves of the NPAs, AFP's Captain Lowen Gil Marquez appealed while echoing the condemnation of government groups.
Latest NPA offensive caused the death of Police Officer 1 (PO) Jane Tacadao, a 29-year old policewoman from San Lorenzo, Guimaras. Tacadao was killed in an ambush in Victorias City, Negros Occidental Wednesday.
Other government forces injured were PO1 Melanie Tupaz also of Guimaras Province, PO1 Maria Fe Cantomayor of Mandurriao, Iloilo City; PO1 Annie Lou Patricio of the Antique Province and PO1 Jocelyn Tebar also of Madurriao, Iloilo City.
The policewomen were on board a police vehicle accompanying Police Superintendent Remus Zacharias Canieso. The group was on the way to visit a police outpost in Barangay Gawahon when ambushed by about 10 to 30 suspected NPAs. Ambush site was by Hacienda San Vicente, Barangay 10 Estado, Victorias City, Negros Occidental.
Other police forces present were Senior Police Officer (SPO) 1 Menardo Ellaga, Operations chief of the Victorias City Police Station and four other armed Regional Mobile Group security escorts.
The RMG managed to fire back at the communist terrorists with the gunbattle lasting almost 30 minutes.
"The masses and a number of people's organizations in Iloilo and elsewhere in Region 6 – Western Visayas have strongly condemned the act of terrorism initiated by terrorist communists," Captain Marquez told The News Today (TNT). "That ambush in Negros is a wake up call then to all militant and activists to do the same - condemn the terrorist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), its armed wing the NPAs, the National Democratic Front (NDF) for the human rights violation they have done and is doing to members of the Philippine National Police. It is a clear violation of Geneva convention which these militant groups are always using as example. Speak up now and be heard like other well-meaning people's organizations."
Captain Marquez is the commanding officer of the 3rd Civil Relations Group of the AFP here.
To note, the AFP in a report also disclosed supposed last quarter terror plan of the CPP-NPA-NDF.
The region's Panay Island and Negros Island are targets primarily for extortion activities and liquidation plots on government agents.
"The AFP continuous to protect its troops and as public servants, the masses against the communist terrorists. We are grateful for the strengthened support of the community and with it, we shall ultimately rid our communities with these pests," Captain Marquez ended.