DAVAO CITY – The Army's 60th Infantry Battalion (60IB) has condemned the series of attacks staged by the communist-terrorist group despite a standing truce between government security forces and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) amid the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
1Lt. Amadeuz Celestial, 60IB Civil-Military Operations officer, said the NPA killed the father of a former rebel at his home in Barangay Dalimdim Laak, Davao de Oro last Tuesday (April 21).
The attack came despite the reciprocal ceasefire declared by the CPP-NPA-NDF on March 29, days after President Rodrigo Duterte called for a truce so that government forces could assist health workers and local government units contain Covid-19.
Celestial identified the victim as Roldan Geroche, who was shot dead by at least three gunmen alleged to be members of the CPP-NPA’s Weakened Guerrilla Front (WGF) 33.
“Geroche was celebrating the birthday of a family member when the said gunmen attacked them,” he added.
He further said that Ronalyn, Geroche’s daughter, identified one of the perpetrators as Christian Pastor or alias ‘Khan’, one of the leaders of WGF 33.
Ronalyn is a former member of the Asdang Kultura which is a pseudo-cultural theater group composed of children and teenage youths used by the CPP-NPA in rallies, public demonstrations, and even during the conduct of their propaganda works in rural areas.
Ronalyn surrendered to the 60IB in 2018 after she was raped by her former comrade and NPA recruiter known as alias "Wendel’".
“After she escaped, she and her family have been targeted by WGF 33 since,” Celestial added.
He added that as per 60IB’s assessment, WGF 33 took advantage of the Covid-19 situation to carry out their long-time plan of assassinating former rebels and suspected government informants in the boundaries of Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro.
The CPP-NPA-NDF is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1101022
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.