Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana yesterday warned the New People’s Army (NPA) not to get involved with the current Marawi City crisis, reiterating that the implementation of martial law in Mindanao will not target local communists.

“Gusto ko lang liwanagin ang mensahe ko sa CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines)-NPA. Huwag na kayong makigulo pa sa nangyayari ngayon sa Mindanao [I would like to make my statement clear to the CPP-NPA. Do not involve yourselves in what’s happening to Mindanao],” Lorenzana said.

“Do not force the government’s hand. Immediately stop all illegal activities and abide by the true spirit of the peace process. This is the only way we can move forward,” he added.

Lorenzana issued the statement in response to National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison’s claim that the martial law implementation in Mindanao will also affect the NPA.

“We would like to make it clear that in the implementation of martial law in Mindanao, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will not specifically target the New People’s Army as alleged by NDFP chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison,” Lorenzana said.

“We will fully comply with the directives of the President that martial law was declared to address radical Islamic terrorism and narco-terrorism in Mindanao,” he added.

Lorenzana said that they are conducting their operations in accordance with the rule of law and respect for human life.

He reiterated that law-abiding citizens in Mindanao need not fear the increased military presence and activities in their localities as government security forces are there to protect the populace, maintain peace and order, and go after criminal elements.

Lorenzana, however, emphasized that members of the CPP-NPA who will engage in criminal and illegal acts such as kidnapping, extortion, murder, and the destruction of property will be dealt with or without martial law.

Meanwhile, the military expressed sadness over reports that the CPP has ordered the NPA to intensify attacks following the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

In a press briefing in Davao City, AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said that they encourage the other group to reconsider their decision considering that there is an ongoing peace talks between the government and the NDFP.

“On the part of the Armed Forces, we sadly received news of this and would still highly encourage the other group to reconsider what their announcement was,” Padilla said.

Padilla said if the NPAs will insist to do what they want, we will enforce the law uniformly no matter who these groups are.

“So if the NPA continues to violate our laws and with impunity attack our forces, then we will deal with that accordingly,” Padilla said.

As this developed, soldiers from the 43rd Infantry Battalion encountered more or less 60 NPA fighters in Matuguinao, Bohol, at 8:30 a.m. Friday.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Francis Wakefield

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