MANILA: The military yesterday renewed its call for communist rebels to abandon the armed struggle in the wake of attacks attributed to the New People’s Army (NPA) during the holidays.
Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt Col Ramon Zagala said the insurgents should support the peace process instead of pursuing the armed struggle.
“Instead of waging violence to make themselves relevant, the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines)-NPA should just lay down their arms and commit themselves to the peace process without preconditions,” Zagala said in a statement.
“After decades of fruitless insurgency, the CPP-NPA should stop being part of the problem and start becoming part of the solution,” he added. Zagala made the statement in the wake of atrocities supposedly committed by communist guerillas during the holiday season.
Last Tuesday, suspected NPA members burned three taxis owned by Holiday Taxi in Panabo, Davao del Norte. Authorities believe the incident has something to do with the insurgents’ extortion activities.
A day before the burning incident, suspected NPA members shot dead a soldier on Christmas break in Allacapan, Cagayan.
On Thursday, one Army soldier was killed after insurgents harassed a military team in Impasugong, Bukidnon. The attack happened on the third day of the holiday truce declared by the CPP.
The Philippine star
