AFP to rebels: Lay down your arms and surrender or suffer consequences

Photo file grabbed from CNN Philippines (ctto)



Manila, Philippines – On Sunday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) called on the New People’s Army (NPA) to lay down their arms and surrender or suffer consequences.

The AFP warned the NPA that they may suffer the same fate as their cohorts in latest military operations that get them killed.

Government troops continue its relentless operations against the rebels who remain destructive, said the AFP official.

“While we are hopeful that more NPAs will surrender in the coming days, our troops on the ground will continue with our relentless operations against them who remain active in their violent and destructive criminal activities against our people in the communities,” AFP Public Affairs Chief, Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo explained.

On one of the latest operation of AFP, combined with the elements from the Philippine Air Force’s 730th Combat Group and Nasugbu Municipal Police, 14 NPA members were neutralized in Batangas.

Authorities reported that among the killed rebels were the secretary of the NPA Guerilla Unit 3 and one platoon leader, while two other parties were wounded.

There were also five soldiers who suffered mild injuries and in stable condition.

The government troops recovered 12 high-powered firearms from the members of NPA.

This successful operation of the military came after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Presidential Proclamation No. 360 which terminated the peace negotiations with the rebels - Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

“Prior to the President’s proclamation, we have been actively conducting counterinsurgency operations against the NPA since the peace negotiations broke down in February 4,” Col. Arevalo said.

After the president’s proclamation, government troops are expecting more violent attacks from NPA
.
“These violent activities by the NPA seek to falsely project that they are still a force to reckon. There is an ostensible leadership vacuum caused by the death of ranking NPA members in the past months resulting to the decreasing capability of the rebel group,” Colonel Arevalo said.

Meanwhile, in November alone, the AFP was able to neutralize total of 119 NPAs in which, 21 where killed during the operations, 29 were detained, and 69 surrendered themselves.


 Source: PTV News

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