NPA attacks a blatant disregard for ongoing peace talks -- 10th ID

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 1): NPA attacks a blatant disregard for ongoing peace talks -- 10th ID

Atrocities committed by New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Sarangani and Compostela Valley against innocent civilians and troopers highlights the insurgents' blatant disregard for the ongoing peace talks.

This is aside from the earlier unprovoked attacks in Batangas, Isabela, Bukidnon, Surigao Del Norte and Agusan Del Norte which claimed the lives of two soldiers, wounding of three and abduction of one last Jan. 29 and 30.

This was stressed by the 10th Infantry Division in a statement Wednesday.

"These violent actions manifest the outright banditry, criminal inclination and gross disrespect of the NPA on the ongoing GPH-NDF (Government Philippines and National Democratic Front) peace negotiations," 10th Infantry Division public affairs office chief Capt. Rhyan Batchar.

On Monday, the NPA staged a series of violent attacks against the civilians and soldiers in Compostela Valley and Sarangani.

The first incident was against the troops of 73rd Infantry Battalion securing a road construction at Barangay Banlibato, Alabel, Sarangani Province.

The second was the burning of a passenger van in Crossing Tablao, BrgyLebe, Kiamba, Sarangani.
The latest incident was the disarming and stealing of personal belongings of the civilian guards of Musahamat Plantation in Barangay Union, Monkayo, Compostela Valley Province.

"We call on the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) to show their sincerity on the peace talks with the government by directing the NPA to immediately desist from committing further atrocities," Batchar added.

"We will however continue to perform our mandate of protecting the Filipino people and their communities against attacks by armed threat groups, including the NPA which was never a People’s Army," he stressed.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=959987