NPA killings strengthen N. Samar resolve to end insurgency

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 15, 2022): NPA killings strengthen N. Samar resolve to end insurgency (By Sarwell Meniano)

NO TO INSURGENCY. The Northern Samar provincial capitol in Catarman, Northern Samar. The provincial government in a statement on Tuesday (Feb. 15, 2022) renewed its commitment to fight insurgency in the province after the recent killings of a policeman and minors in attacks perpetrated by members of the New People’s Army. (File photo)

The Northern Samar provincial government has renewed its commitment to fight insurgency in the province after the recent killings of a policeman and two minors in attacks perpetrated by members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

In a statement on Tuesday, the local government said the violence reflects the communist terrorist group’s “desperate attempt to sow fear among our people to yield support to their atrocious revolutionary cause.”

“While the provincial government is saddened by this unfortunate event and grieves for the loss of innocent victims, to include children and some of our government forces, this will not cower us from continuing our support to concerted efforts to bring lasting peace in Northern Samar. The heartless perpetrators should be brought to the bar of justice,” the statement said.

On February 7, Lt. Kenneth Tad-awan was killed in a clash with a band of rebels in Look village, Lapinig town. The government deployed the police mobile force battalion in the area to conduct humanitarian activities.

In the remote village of Roxas in Catubig town, two minors died, and two others were wounded when the NPA ambushed patrolling soldiers on February 8.

The children identified as Andre Mercado, 12, and Leandro Alivio, 13 were in the area to gather coconuts and converse with government troops before the NPA’s indiscriminately fired on them.

Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan committed to give financial assistance of PHP20,000 to families for each of the children killed and PHP10,000 to the families of wounded in Catubig town.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The National Democratic Front (NDF)has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1167768