The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) claimed on Monday that it was the military that engaged the New People’s Army (NPA) unit in Rodriguez, Rizal that resulted in the death of a soldier and one rebel, and the wounding of two other security officers.
(REUTERS/Erik De Castro / MANILA BULLETIN)
CPP chief information officer Marco Valbuena cited an incident report released by the 2nd Infantry Battalion (2ID) which stated that Army troopers “conducted community defense patrol” in Barangay Puray last Saturday as a response to a tip that armed New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were planning to attack a group of Army troopers conducting community support work in the village.
“Based on AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) reports themselves, the armed clash last March 28 was an encounter which broke out when troops under the 2ID carried out patrol operations mounted by the local AFP unit,” Valbuena said.
“The claim that the NPA unit was planning an attack is baseless.”
As such, the communist officer said all units of the NPA will continue to uphold the ceasefire declaration of the CPP Central Committee to attend to the needs of the communities affected by COVID-19.
“The Party assures AFP soldiers that they will not be attacked during the ceasefire period especially if they are conducting public health activities in relation to efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19,” Valbuena said.
Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo and AFP Chief Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. denounced the attack.
The encounter occurred amid an existing ceasefire between the government and the communist groups, and killed Corporal Chrisler Pan and an unidentified member of the NPA.
Two other soldiers were also wounded. They were identified as Staff Sergeant Ralph Angot and Private First Class Noel Palmes.
The CPP Central Committee announced on March 24 that it would heed the global call of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for an immediate ceasefire in conflicts around the world so that countries may turn their attention to fight COVID-19. The CPP’s ceasefire takes effect from March 26 to April 15.
Meanwhile, President Duterte declared on March 19 a unilateral ceasefire with the communist groups as he appealed to them to stop the attacks on the troops and help the government in containing the deadly disease. The government’s ceasefire will last until April 15.
But with the attack, Santos said the communist groups only proved that they “[threw] away their so-called ‘humanitarian principles’ and [exposed] the exploitative nature of their ceasefire declaration.”
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