The government has condemned the “treacherous” communist rebel attack on government troops in Rodriguez, Rizal and vowed to crush any armed attack “with ferocity and might.”
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the latest attack by the New People’s Army is a “violation of the ceasefire” declared between the government and the rebels amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“We strongly condemn in the strongest terms the NPA attack on our soldiers while the latter were doing community work in Barangay Puray, Rodriguez, Rizal in the face of a declaration of ceasefire on both sides and in the midst of an emergency health crisis,” he said.
“Let this be a warning to the enemies of the state that the constituted authorities are equipped and ready to repel any and all transgressions of law and crush any armed attack against our soldiers and civilians with ferocity and might,” he said.
A soldier and one NPA rebel were killed in the encounter.
Panelo said the latest attack on soldiers exposed the “insincerity” of the communist rebels in declaring a ceasefire as well as the “blatant disregard” of the welfare of the Filipino people.
“That NPA attack which resulted in the death of one soldier and wounding of two others and heavy casualties to the enemy unmasked the treacherous character of the NPA when it declared a ceasefire following the government’s own declaration,” he said. (Genalyn Kabiling)
