PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde directed alerted all police field units to conduct counter-actions against the tactical offensive activities of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) following its operations in Negros Oriental Thursday night.
Albayalde, in a press statement sent to SunStar Bacolod on Friday, said that police maneuver forces in Negros Island, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, are in hot pursuit of local communist dissident terrorists who torched two heavy equipment units in Negros Oriental Thursday night.
Police records showed that a group of some 40 armed men set on fire the bulldozer and a backhoe owned by PhilSouth Construction at Barangay Bolisong in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental on Thursday night.
No casualties were reported.
The bus passengers, who witnessed the incident, told the police that the armed men shouted “Mabuhay ang Bagong Hukbong Bayan” while setting the heavy equipment on fire.
Investigators are looking into possible extortion attempt as a motive for the arson.
Albayalde said the officials of Negros Oriental also denounced this latest atrocity committed by the CPP-NPA as an obstacle to development because it stalled the ongoing roadwork’s project of a vital farm-to-market road in the province.
“Those behind this crime are resisting entry of development in the countryside that would have ushered government presence and availability of goods and services that will benefit people in the barrios,” he said.
Albayalde also condemned the ambush on the convoy of Food and Drug Administration Director General Nela Charade Puno in Camarines Sur on Thursday, which killed four policemen.
“We condemn these latest acts of lawless terror by the local communist movement against symbols of government authority. We mourn their loss, but assure the ends of justice will be served,” Albayalde said.
“This is not only an attack on the police but an assault on a national agency that protects consumer welfare,” he said.
Albayalde added the increased activity by the CPP-NPA could also be part of its “saber-rattling” tactics to project an image of strength to highlight the forthcoming CPP anniversary on December 26, and to bolster its extortion activities in the forthcoming election season next year.
On Thursday morning, a suspected member of NPA was killed in an encounter with the Philippine Army at Barangay Carol-an in Ayungon, Negros Oriental.
Captain Ruel Llanes, spokesperson of 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, earlier said that the 62nd IB troops were conducting a monitoring and combat operations when they sighted the presence of about 10 to 15 armed men in the area.
The firefight between the troops and rebels lasted for almost 30 to 40 minutes that resulted in the death of alias “Dagul”, a suspected member of Central Negros Front.