Malacañang on Friday, March 24, said the government is addressing the terrorist activities of the New People’s Army in Masbate.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the Philippine Army’s 9th Infantry Division (9ID) and the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Regional Command in Bicol met on March 23 to boost police presence in schools affected by the clashes of rebels and military this week.
According to Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., government security forces have already made a boost in their operations against rebels
Coordination is also ongoing with local government and school officials to counter rebels’ misinformation campaign, while peace and order council meetings will be convened for the activation of quick response teams.
“School officials were also briefed on how to react appropriately to a similar situation involving firefights or IED [improvised explosive devices] incidents in areas with close proximity to learning institutions,” Galvez said.
He also mentioned a pattern among the ambushes, the use of IEDs in populated areas, and the placement of tarpaulins to lure soldiers as government troops are on heightened alert with the upcoming NPA anniversary on March 29.
He said the detonation of IEDs in Placer and Dimasalang towns on March 22 followed the removal of the rebels’ propaganda materials.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier expressed concern over the violence in Masbate that “had traumatized the affected civilians who were generally school children and their teachers.”
“This just demonstrates that although we have made much progress in the fight against the Communist Terrorists Groups, we must be continuously vigilant so that such murderous abuses are avoided in the future,” he said. AG– gb
