Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. said on Friday the one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao is warranted as the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army New People’s Army threatens to conduct a nationwide offensive.
“Eh di all the more that we have a reason dun sa extension dahil dun sa ginagawa nilang pananakot di ba,” Madrigal said.
“But nonetheless ano naman tayo, ‘yung tropa naman natin are always on the alert. We are taking a proactive measure para maano naman ‘yan, ma-adress ‘yan,” he added.
The CPP on Wednesday ordered its armed wing, the NPA, to intensify its offensive tactics across the country on the heels of the extension of martial rule over Mindanao.
“The CPP calls on the New People’s Army to mount tactical offensives across the country in response to the extension of martial law in Mindanao,” the CPP said.
“All NPA units must exert all possible effort to punish the worst fascist units and officers of the AFP who have committed grave crimes against the people,” it added.
Madrigal said that all units around the country are on alert to repel possible attacks from communist terrorists.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the CPP-NPA threat to intensify attacks against government troops after the extension of martial law in Mindanao is no longer new to them.
“Hindi naman bago ito. With or without any order from the CPP-NPA, they have been hitting us,” Lorenzana said.
“Our troops are always ready to face them,” he added. (Francis T. Wakefield)