Army hits NPA over extortion in Northern Samar amid crisis

Posted to the Mindanao Examiner (Apr 8, 2020): Army hits NPA over extortion in Northern Samar amid crisis

THE PHILIPPINE Army has condemned the New People’s Army (NPA) for their extortion activities in poverty-stricken communities of Northern Samar despite the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis.

The Philippine Army’s 20th Infantry Battalion reported that 15 members of the communist terrorist group forcefully collected food from residents of Lakandula village in Las Navas, Northern Samar on Tuesday.

Acting on reports from civilians, soldiers conducted a patrol operation to stop the NPA’s extortion activities, ensuing a brief gun battle around 2:50 p.m.

The encounter resulted in the wounding of one soldier while the NPA rebels are believed to have suffered casualties as evidenced by bloodstains found in the enemy's escape route, the Philippine Army said.

"While the entire nation is battling the contagion, the NPAs are taking advantage of the ceasefire by regrouping and arming themselves to orchestrate an attack against our government forces,” said Maj. Gen. Pio Diñoso III, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division in a statement issued on Wednesday.

“The enemies are intimidating the populace who are already experiencing fear and uncertainty due to the community quarantine by forcibly extracting food causing thereby scarcity of resources in the far-flung communities,” he added.

To recall, President Rodrigo Duterte declared on March 19, 2020, a unilateral ceasefire with the communist terrorist group as the nation grapples with the coronavirus disease pandemic. After a week, communist leaders ordered a similar ceasefire.

"This deliberate violation of the ceasefire by the NPA will not hamper the delivery of the urgently needed medical, health and economic assistance as well as the movement of the people. Your Army assures the public that we will not drop our guard in securing the people and to work with the government to bring back normalcy in our lives that are derailed by the dreaded virus,” Diñoso said.

The NPA, which has been waging a five-decade armed struggle against the government, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (By Sarwell Meniano)

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