Palace to NPA: ‘Make our day’

From Malaya (Apr 25): Palace to NPA: ‘Make our day’

ARMED Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista has ordered troops in Misamis Oriental to conduct a “relentless pursuit” of New People’s Army rebels who ambushed a convoy of Gingoog City Mayor Ruth Guingona last Saturday.

The military leadership has doubled the troops deployed in the province. A Marine battalion is set to augment the Army’s 58th Infantry Battalion already in the province.

AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos said a company of Army soldiers, or at least 100 men, are conducting pursuit operations for the 15-man NPA group.

Burgos said Bautista also ordered the troops “to intensify security patrols so that the NPAs would not be able to establish similar roadblocks.”

Guingona, wife of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. and mother of Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, was in a six-vehicle convoy on the way back to the city proper after attending a fiesta in a village in the city’s outskirts. They were fired at upon reaching a “checkpoint” set up by the NPA. The mayor was wounded while two of her escorts died.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the NPA used to be a group with a cause but is now reduced to an ordinary bandit group.

“Well, do we now negotiate with bandits? If they commit banditry, if they are to commit crimes, we will arrest them. We will apprehend them,” he said.

He told the NPA government troops are prepared to dismantle its roadblocks.

“You wanna challenge us? Go ahead, make our day,” he said.

He acknowledged the apology issued by the NPA to the mayor and the fatalities but said the NPA should also apologize to its other victims and the families of the other victims including policemen and soldiers.

He said manhunt operations against the NPA have been intensified also because of renewed operations like extorting permit to campaign fees.

“So we’re asking to local politicians: Do not succumb to this... In the long run, it’s not going to help the politicians kasi you’ll be subject to their whims, subject to their mercy…There’s only one Armed Forces and we will protect you,” he said.

Lacierda said some NPA members could still be unaware of reforms the Aquino government has implemented as their leaders are preventing them from going down the mountains.

“We are pushing for more jobs in the countryside; we are improving the productivity of the farmers. There’s no sense for them to spend time in the mountains. You know, come down and join us in sharing the wealth and sharing the progress of the country. They (NPA) have been reduced to a bandit group, and it makes no sense for them to continue their nefarious ways,” he said.

PNP chief Alan Purisima suggested that candidates who want to campaign in NPA-infested areas do so at the same time in the same place, regardless of party.

This way, the police can ensure their security, he said.

First, candidates should contact local police chiefs in advance so that area security will be arranged, especially those with few policemen.

He said he sees no problem with candidates of different political parties campaigning at the same time in the same area because this will test their political maturity.

Meanwhile, suspected NPA rebels attacked a market in Maco town in Compostela Valley and snatched a soldier, Pfc. Jesus Tomas of the Army’s 71st Infantry Battalion.

Tomas and two other soldiers, Pfc. Segundino Domo and Pfc. Feliciano Gavino, were buying supplies from the market when fired upon by an undetermined number of rebels.

The NPA then seized Tomas. Domo and Gavino were able to evade rebels with the help of civilians who hid them among civilians, the military said.

In Northern Samar Tuesday, troops from the Army’s 20th Infantry Battalion seized an NPA camp in Victoria town.

Battalion commander Lt. Col. Noel Vestuir said the camp in Sitio Dakong Sapa in Buenasuerte village was abandoned by the NPA about two weeks ago.

It is the eight rebel lair to fall into the hands of the 20th IB in the province this year, he said.

In Iloilo, forces from the 82nd and 31st Infantry Battalions seized another abandoned NPA camp at Sitio Carbasa in Igpajo village last Monday.

Residents tipped the military on the existence of the camp.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/index.php/news/nation/29584-palace-to-npa-make-our-day