Army: Rebels not interested in peace negotiations
The atrocities perpetrated by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army against the military forces, particularly in Western Visayas, show that they are not interested in pursuing peace talks with the government, Philippine Army officials said.
“As your Army continues its call for the resumption of peace talks and sincere adherence to the cessation of hostilities, the CPP-NPA continues to respond with horrific violence,” First Lt. Mark Andrew Posadas, Army regional spokesman, said.
He added: “It only strengthens our position further that (they) don’t want to pursue a lasting peace in our nation but to continue instead the cycle of violence against their fellow Filipinos.”
The military issued the statement after NPA rebels who posed as policemen killed Staff Sgt. Efraim Bagonoc, an Army detachment commander, Toboso, Negros Occidental on Saturday.
Two para-military troopers were also wounded.
The communist rebels also torched the military outpost and stole about two dozens of firearms.
“Our nation’s call for a peaceful resolution to this conflict continues to fall on deaf ears. While the CPP top leadership affirms that they want to pursue a lasting peace, it is their minions in the NPA that continue to perpetrate heinous crimes against humanity,” Posadas said.
For his part, Major Gen. Vicente Porto, 3rd ID commander, reminded all unit commanders to conduct active defense and security operations to deny the NPA the chance to conduct tactical offensives.
He also directed them to remind all operating troops and Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Units Active Auxiliary units to always be vigilant of any possible enemy ploys such as posing as friendly forces to gain access to military camps/facilities and pursue their planned atrocities.
Since last month, the NPA has perpetrated a series of atrocities in Western Visayas, including the killing of three civilians in Escalante City, Negros Occidental and successive attacks in southern Iloilo where a civilian woman from Igbaras was injured after the rebels fired at her house.
In Leon, Iloilo, a group of rebels also hijacked a delivery van of Megavia Marketing as a punishment for the company’s failure to pay “revolutionary taxes.”
A group of suspected rebels also fired at the military’s Osorio Detachment in San Remegio, Antique.*
