NPA responsible for 374 violent attacks in 2012 -- AFP

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 6): NPA responsible for 374 violent attacks in 2012 -- AFP

The Armed Forces Wednesday revealed the New People's Army conducted 374 violent attacks in 2012, resulting in the death of 53 civilians nationwide.

Roughly this translates to one civilian death attributable to the rebels every week, military sources said. This is far cry from the rebels' proclamation that they are a pro-people organization, the sources added. This, aside from the Jan. 27 NPA attack in La Castellana, Negros Occidental which resulted in the death of one police officer and eight civilians.

Aside from the 53 civilian deaths in 2012, the NPAs also killed 81 members of the AFP, eight from the Philippines National Police, and 22 members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit. Such atrocities show the NPAs lack regard for civilians who refuse to support their organizations.

For its part, the AFP was able to successfully neutralize 555 NPA personalities in 2012 of which 367 voluntarily surrendered to the government. The NPA has an active strength of 4,000 armed fighters nationwide.

“The AFP will never waiver in its commitment to thwart NPA atrocities and armed violence until just and lasting peace and stability for our country is achieved," AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Emmanuel T. Bautista said.

He also pledged to intensify security operations against armed rebels who continue to wage armed violence causing loss of innocent lives, destruction of properties, and damage to vital economic facilities and infrastructures.

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