MANILA, Oct. 8 (PNA) -– The spokesman of the Philippine Army Saturday branded the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels as peace saboteurs and political terrorists following last Monday’s attacks by about 300 insurgents on three mining firms in Surigao del Norte.
Col. Tony Parlade, Army spokesman, said the coordinated attacks have “confirmed our earlier statements that their leadership (Communist Party of the Philippines/National Democratic Front (CPP/NDF) does not have control over their local terrorist leaders.”
Parlade said that the raids have shown that CPP/NPA/NDF leadership has no control over Jorge Madlos, a ranking rebel leader operating in north eastern Mindanao, or his son who have defied orders by carrying out attacks despite an ongoing peace talks.
“This is another cheap political stunt of the CPP that proves too costly to our economy,” Parlade said, adding that “your Army (Philippine Army) can only do so much.”
“Eventually, the people and other stakeholders should decide whether to support these bandits or their government to stop these saboteurs of peace and progress,” he said.
“We don’t want anymore of these ‘political terrorists’”, Parlade said.
Last Monday, some 300 heavily armed NPA rebels simultaneously attacked the Taganito Mining Company, Nickel Asia Corp., and the Platinum Metal Corp. all in Claver, Surigao del Norte and burned heavy equipment worth P3 billion.
NPA RAID. Burned equipment of Nickel Asia
Destroyed by the rebels were 132 dump trucks, nine barges, 22 backhoes, two cranes, two bulldozers, two compactors, one grader, several buildings and office equipment.
The rebels were infuriated when the three companies refused to pay revolution tax demanded by the NPA.
The coordinated attacks came at a time when the government and the NDF peace panels were scheduled to resume their peace negotiations in Oslo, Norway later this month.
Supt. Martin Gamba, spokesman of Police Regional Office 13, has confirmed the nefarious activities of the NPA in Surigao del Norte.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has launched a counter offensive against the NPA rebels who attacked the three mining companies.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles said that these atrocities by the communist have made the peace process difficult.
“Peace talks are more difficult when there is no accompanying ceasefire on the ground,” Deles.
“Hostile attacks such as the one conducted by the NPA in three mining areas in Surigao del Norte undermine people’s confidence in the peace process, creating a ‘disconnect’ between agreements made on the peace table and what is happening on the ground.”
But in spite of the attacks, Deles said the “government is still committed to push through with the peace negotiations. We continue to look for peaceful resolution to all armed conflict — and hope the other party will listen more to our people’s aspirations for peace and devote more energies on making the peace table work.” (PNA)
MANILA, Oct. 8 (PNA) -– The spokesman of the Philippine Army Saturday branded the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels as peace saboteurs and political terrorists following last Monday’s attacks by about 300 insurgents on three mining firms in Surigao del Norte.
attacks have “confirmed our earlier statements that their leadership (Communist Party of the Philippines/National Democratic Front (CPP/NDF) does not have control over their local terrorist leaders.”
THE DURIAN POST 