Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar tasked the Eastern Visayas Police Regional Office, including the Samar Police, to heighten security measures and intensify operations against communist rebels.
Eleazar issued the directive after the military discovered a site, being used by rebels to manufacture anti-personnel mines or landmines, in Eastern Samar. A raid by the Army 8th Infantry Division at the New Peoples Army’s lair in Dolores, Eastern Samar resulted in the death of at least 19 communist rebels in a 13-hour firefight with the troopers.
The PNP condemned the continuous manufacture and use by the rebels of anti-personnel mines or land mines which is a violation of International Humanitarian Law and shows that the CPP/NPA has no remorse for the death of innocent civilians, including Far Eastern University football player Kieth Absalon and his cousin Nolven who were killed by landmines.
“Hindi tayo hihinto hangga’t hindi natin tuluyang napipigilan ang mga pag-atake at panggugulo ng mga rebeldeng ito sa ating mga komunidad. I have tasked all police units in the area to be on heightened alert to thwart attacks by these rebels who have been targeting innocent civilians,” Eleazar said.
“Alam naman ng mga rebeldeng komunista na labag ang paggamit ng mga ito sa International Humanitarian Law dahil sa pinsalang dulot nito sa mga inosenteng sibilyan,” he added.
“Patunay lang na desperado at wala na talagang pakialam ang CPP/NPA kung may madamay man na sibilyan para lang palabasin na sila ay malakas pa kahit batid nilang paubos na ang kanilang puwersa,” the PNP Chief said.
Eleazar encouraged the public to report to authorities if they have information on the presence of NPA rebels as well as on sites being used by the communists to manufacture the landmines.
(PNP-PIO) – bny
