‘Attacks in answer to gov't all-out war'

From  the Visayan Daily Star (Aug 14): ‘Attacks in answer to gov't all-out war'

The Leonardo Panaligan Command of the New People's Army in central Negros claimed that its series of military actions against “legitimate targets” was in answer to the “all-out war” declared by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Ka JB Regalado, in a statement posted at the Leonardo Panaligan Command website, has claimed that 12 police and military personnel were killed in their month-long military action in Negros Oriental on July 21.

He cited what he described as a successful ambush in Guihulgan City, where they had killed six policemen and an alleged military asset, and recovered 17 firearms, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, and four cellular phones.

He again justified the ambush of policemen, stressing that they are legitimate targets of the NPA.

They also claimed responsibility for the liquidation of former Army Sgt. Ronnie Montejo in Canlaon City, also in Negros Oriental, and the recovery of a 45 caliber pistol with a magazine containing ammunition on June 20.

On June 30, they also claimed to have killed four soldiers in Brgy. Binubuhan, Guihulngan City, in an encounter with the 79th Infantry Battalion. But the claim was dismissed by the 303rd Infantry Brigade as mere propaganda, and a product of the NPA's fertile imagination.

The ambush of policemen in Guihulngan has prompted President Rodrigo Duterte, who personally condoled with the families of slain and wounded policemen and gave them immediate financial assistance and medals, to order an aggressive operations against the NPA in Negros Island.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2017/August/14/negor1.htm