By FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD, With a report from Malu Cadelina Manar
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said that recent attacks perpetrated by the New People’s Army (NPA) is meant to make up for their recent defeats at the hands of the military.
AFP Public Affairs Office chief Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo made the comment during an interview.
“We are expecting the attacks perpetrated by the NPA especially against soft targets,” Arevalo said.
“Those were meant to make up for the tactical defeats they have experienced in view of the intensified focused military operations. Chief of which is the successful operations in Nasugbu, Batangas that led to the neutralization of 14 members of the communist terrorists and seizure of 12 high-powered firearms,” Arevalo said.
Arevalo reiterated that just for the month of November of 2017, a total of 119 New People’s Army rebels were neutralized: 21 of which were killed, 29 arrested while 69 surrendered. A total of 62 high powered and low powered firearms were seized.
Arevalo, at the same time, said that the NPA should just surrender or suffer the same consequences of the 14 NPAs who were killed in Nasugbu, Batangas.
“We urge the members of this communist terrorist group to consider the two options available to them: To take advantage of the opportunity for them to surface and be reunited with their family; join mainstream society; and be productive members of the community by availing of the Comprehensive Local Integration Program,” Arevalo said.
Meantime, communist guerrillas finally released Police Officer 1 Bristol Catalan of the Makilala PNP after After 110 days of captivity.
Kidapawan City councilor Ruby Padilla-Sison, member of the Sangguniang Panglungsod here, confirmed the release.
Sison, along with some members of the city council, were among those who witnessed the release of Catalan to his family.
Catalan, a member of the Philippine National Police based in Makilala, North Cotabato, was abducted last Aug. 17, by members of the New People’s Army (NPA) while driving a motorcycle with his two sons at Purok 3, Barangay Katipunan in Kidapawan City.
Sison said the NPA released Catalan after they found no reason to continue holding him longer as prisoner of war.
The family of Catalan, in a press conference, expressed gratitude to people who have facilitated the release.
