The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) today condemned the CPP-NPA-NDF’s killing spree yet again for the ambush of soldiers and civilians who were assisting the government’s pre-emptive evacuation of residents in Carmen, Surigao del Sur in preparation for Tropical Storm Odette calling it a “deplorable act against Filipinos in the middle of crisis”.
“The CPP-NPA-NDF’s height of insensitivity, callousness, and opportunism knows no bounds. Wala na talaga silang pinipiling tao, lugar, o sitwasyon para pumatay at maghasik ng terorismo. Patunay lang ito na sila ay kaaway ng bayan at walang malasakit sa mga mamamayan dahil kahit yung mga sundalo at sibilyan na assigned sa disaster-response ay tinambangan nila,” said DILG Undersecretary and NTF ELCAC Spokesperson Jonathan E. Malaya.
He said that it is unfortunate that government life-saving efforts in the middle of a natural disaster are hindered by the violence of the NPA’s. He said that the ambush that led to the death of 3 civilians only shows how little regard the terrorist group has for the lives of ordinary Filipinos.
“Mariing kinokondena ng DILG itong ginawang karahasan ng NPA sa mga gusto lamang tumulong sa atin sa pre-emptive evacuation. Sa panahon ng pandemya at bagyo ay kailangan nating magtulungan ngunit itong mga teroristang ito ay nagawa pang maghasik ng lagim,” he said in an interview on PTV 4’s Laging Handa program.
Malaya asked the terrorist group to put into premium the welfare of their fellow Filipinos in preparation for Typhoon “Odette”. “Imbes na makatulong sila, sinisira pa nila ang magandang ginagawa ng pamahalaan.”
He said that the CPP-NPA-NDF must set aside their selfish intentions and propaganda, tap on to their nationalism, and deviate from killing innocents who are only doing their job to assist in the middle of the pandemic and the typhoon.
In the same program, Surigao Del Sur Governor Alexander Pimentel said that the NPA ambushed and targeted the troop of the Philippine Army in Barangay Esperanza in Carmen, Surigao de Sur who are conducting pre-emptive evacuation only to kill three civilians and wound another instead.
“Nag-eevac [evacuation] kami ngayon dito sa Carmen, unfortunately sa Barangay Esperanza sa Municipality of Carmen kung saan tumutulong ang Army, inambush ng NPA. Tatlo ang patay na civilian,” Pimentel narrated.
He said that as part of the local government unit’s pre-emptive evacuation protocol, residents living in landslide prone areas are being prioritized for transport to safer locations within the municipality. “Ayun nga nag-eevac tayo, hindi natin alam bakit naman nila inambush.”
He further addressed the terrorist group saying that typhoon and pandemic times are not the most opportune of circumstances go about their criminal acts. He requested the NPA, for the time being, to exercise ceasefire. “Kung puwede ceasefire muna tayo, December na. Nage-evacuate ngayon ang mga tao, kung puwede lang. Tigilan muna natin ito please, kahit ngayong Disyembre lang.”
“Ang hiling ko lang sa NPA, huwag gagalawin ang kapwa mga Pilipino natin at saka ang Army na tumutulong sa evacuation efforts ng pamahalaan, huwag niyong ambushin. Tignan niyo ang nangyari ngayon, tatlo ang namatay, mga sibilyan. Magtulungan tayo, kapwa tayo Pilipino. Huwag tayong magpatayan,” Pimentel added in disappointment.
Identities of the killed victims are yet to be disclosed as immediate investigation and manhunt of the suspects is currently on-going.
Original Article at: https://dilg.gov.ph/news/DILG-condemns-NPA-attack-on-government-team-doing-pre-emptive-evacuation-of-residents/NC-2021-1220