DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) condemned the attack of New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Sitio Manipis, Paquibato District, Davao City that killed a soldier and wounded two others amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

"The Davao City Police strongly condemned the heinous terroristic attack on the security forces of 16th IB (Infantry Battalion) on May 8, 2020 at Sitio Manipis, Paquibato District, Davao City," DCPO said in a statement issued on May 9.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) announced on April 30 that it was ending its ceasefire agreement with the government and commanded its armed wing, the NPA, to conduct offensive operations against state forces.

"Amid this coronavirus crisis, the cowardly rebel attack on soldiers while on their way to conduct intelligence monitoring prior to a humanitarian assistance operation is an affront, not to the military, but to the Filipinos' sense of love and compassion to its countrymen deeply affected by this plight," the DCPO statement added.

It can be recalled that on April 22, while the unilateral ceasefire is in effect, the security forces had an encounter with the guerrilla fighters after reports of their presence in Sitio Kapehan, Barangay Malabog, Paquibato District, Davao City.

The encounter also led to the wounding two soldiers after the improvised explosive device (IED) set off by the NPA exploded.

According to Philippine Army, the NPA is attempting to recover the area of Paquibato, which used to be their stronghold in previous years. The City Government of Davao has launched the Peace 911 initiative in the area in a bid to end the insurgency.

Following the report, officials urged the residents in the area not to support the NPA and drive them away from their communities.

"Davao City Police Office will continue to reaffirm the country's principle and unequivocal position in rejecting all forms of violence and extremism," the statement further read.