TORCHED. A burning police squad car seen after the New People's Army rebels set it on fire during an attack Monday morning (March 11, 2019) in Motiong, Samar. The attack killed a policeman and injured another police personnel. (Contributed photo)
TACLOBAN CITY -- The savage attack on a patrol car in Motiong, Samar on Monday has sparked online outrage against the New People’s Army (NPA) among relatives and friends of the slain police officer.
Lottie Salarda, cousin of the slain Police Staff Sgt. Glenn Meniano, said on Tuesday the ideology of communist rebels is senseless since they brutally attacked a policeman working to secure poor communities.
“Why kill people? Was it really necessary to advance your ideology? He was murdered and not killed in action since there was no gun battle between the NPA and the police that time,” Salarda, a former journalist based in Leyte, said in an interview.
She pointed out that murder is a heinous crime and should be strongly condemned. She told rebels not to use the stalled peace talks to justify the killing.
“He was killed because the NPA sprayed the bullet and it has nothing to do with your ideology. Now, if murder plays a big role in your ideology, I guess you might re-evaluate it. You tolerate murder by telling people that it is part of the process of achieving whatever you want. Stop your propaganda. Many lives have been lost,” she said.
Meniano, a native of Jiabong, Samar, was driving a patrol car heading back to Motiong police station Monday morning after fetching water from the nearby police station in Paranas town when rebels detonated an anti-personnel mine and attacked the two police officers along the national road in Motiong town.
Patrolwoman Jane Abejar was hit by shrapnel but managed to escape the attack. Rebels also burned the car.
Citing her experience in joining activism, Salarda asked her nephews, nieces, cousins to never affiliate or support the legal fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines, NPA, and the National Democratic Front.
“If you join them, it only means you're condoning the crime committed against Kuya Glenn. I've been there and it's not worth it. It's a rotten institution ran by propaganda. Be smart. Do not believe them. If you really want to serve the people, help your parents first. Do not disappoint them,” she added.
On Monday, several friends of the slain police officer changed their Facebook profile pictures demanding justice for their colleague.
Zosilyn Meniano Malate, also the victim’s cousin, condemned the attack saying that rebels not just killed a police officer, but they also took away a friend, an adviser, and a good provider.
“All we want is justice for Glenn Meniano. You discouraged us to enter the police service, but you did to help secure people,” Malate said.
The Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division vowed to help the Philippine National Police to pursue the terrorists, assist in filing appropriate criminal cases, and “ensure that perpetrators will face the full arm of the law.”
“The Army condemns this treacherous act which only shows that the NPA is not a pro-people organization, but a mere terrorist group which has no agenda aside from sowing fear to the populace,” the army said in a statement issued Tuesday.
Both the United States and the European Union have declared the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1064297
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