NPA attacks prompt gov’t cancellation of talks

THE GOVERNMENT on Wednesday canceled talks with communist rebels, citing continued attacks on government forces even up to that day.

Among the latest reported incidents were an encounter early Wednesday morning in North Cotabato province between members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and rebels of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Canceled, in particular, were back-channel talks next month in Europe that both the government and the rebels had already agreed on.

“President (Rodrigo R.) Duterte stressed that the Reds really need to stop engaging the military in Mindanao if they want to continue the peace negotiations, adding that the government has always dealt with the communist rebels in good faith,” a statement by Malacañang said on Wednesday.

“The Duterte administration has shown in numerous occasions its strong commitment to bring peace,” Mr. Abella for his part said.

“It is time for the NDFP to reciprocate the government’s gestures of goodwill by ending their extortion and criminal activities and re-directing their energy to help eradicate terrorism and violent extremism in Mindanao,” he added.

For his part, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus G. Dureza said: “The situation on the ground [that is] necessary to provide the desired enabling environment for the conduct of peace negotiations [is] still not present up to this time.”

In that reported encounter on Wednesday, the military said four of the 10 members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) that engaged in a firefight with the New People’s Army (NPA) sustained “slight wounds.”

The PSG team, which was traveling in two vehicles, was headed toward Cagayan de Oro from Camp Panacan in Davao City when they came across a “checkpoint” in the town of Arakan, North Cotabato, manned by about 50 armed men wearing military uniform.

“There was a group of armed men wearing Army uniform. So when our troops saw them, they stopped because they thought they (were) also troopers. The NPA, they are fond of that, pretending. So when our troops noticed that the armed men were not really military men, that was when the firefight started,” PSG spokesman Lt. Col. Michael T. Aquino said in a phone interview.

Mr. Aquino clarified earlier reports, which stated that the incident was an ambush, saying, “I’ll repeat. It was not an ambush. It was an encounter. Our troops fired back when they noticed the armed men were not military men.”

Also sought for comment, 1^st Lt. Silver Adell B. Belvis of the 39^th Infantry Battalion said in a phone interview that the incident was a “road block” and not an ambush.

“Even the NPA was surprised because the PSG used civilian vehicles,” he said.

Mr. Aquino for his part said the PSG was there “only (for) admin(istrative) (matters). It was only an ordinary movement.”

“It is because we have concerns…. There are concerns there that the (PSG) command wants to know,” he added.

There was no information as of this reporting on the wounded on the NPA’s side.

The spokesman said that no one was critically hurt among the PSG. As to number of wounded from the suspected NPA, Mr. Aquino said they have no information as they prioritized to evacuate the area, especially for the wounded PSGs.

Mr. Aquino also said that ground commanders in the area and the Eastern Mindanao Command are already conducting pursuit operations.

Also yesterday, two Marines from the 12^th Marine Battalion were shot dead by NPA rebels in Magara Village, Roxas, Palawan.

And last Monday afternoon, an explosion damaged an M35 truck transporting members of the Western Command as they were passing Tarusan village, Bataraza, Palawan. One of the soldiers was injured.

“Team WESCOM also denounces the CPP-NPA-NDF’s use of IED (improvised explosive device) as a shameful and gutless act that can’t be anything more than placing the lives of innocent civilians in there in grave danger,” Capt. Cheryl Tindog, AFP WESCOM spokesperson, said via text message to reporters.

The NPA has already claimed responsibility for the three separate attacks.

The military has stepped up security measures, particularly in Davao City, following intelligence reports that the New People’s Army (NPA) is planning to step up its offensive in the days leading to Mr. Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24.

The military said it has received information that the rebels are planning attacks in key cities, particularly in Davao, the President’s hometown.

AFP Chief General Eduardo M. Año on Tuesday said the NPA attacks were intended “just to ruin the SONA of the President, they just want to embarrass him.” — Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral, with Jil Danielle M. Caro and Carmelito Q. Francisco