President Duterte condemns recent NPA attack in Quezon
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte presides over the meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members prior to his talk to the people at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Compound in Davao City on June 7, 2021. JOEY DALUMPINES/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday, June 7, condemned the recent attack of the members of the New People’s Army (NPA) on government security forces on an aid mission in Quezon province, describing the atrocity as “sheer brutality".
“Itong
mga ano wala na ito, they do not have the ideology. Wala na ‘yang silang
prinsipyo sa ulo nila makipag-away. They are there to plunder and to just for
the sheer brutality of it all, they want to kill our soldiers,” the President
said during his televised address Talked to the Nation.
“The
police and soldiers across the country have been distributing food aid and
other needs. At despite the sacrifice of the men and women of the Armed Forces
of the Philippines and the police, still they are the object of itong
depredations, attack,” he added.
The
attack happened over the weekend as local policemen, soldiers and Citizen Armed
Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) personnel distribute food aid to the
Indigenous Peoples in Barangay Del Rosario, Buenavista, Quezon.
A
member of government security forces died after sustaining bullet wounds while
two others were injured but are now in stable condition.
In
issuing his strong condemnation, the chief executive said no peace talks could
ever succeed between the rebels and any national leadership if the insurgents
continue to attack government forces and installations.
President
Duterte also mentioned the vulnerability of village chiefs from harassments by
the rebels, saying barangay captains are favorite targets.
“Iyong
mga barangay captain is one sector na maraming pinatay ang NPA sa ngayon. Sila
ang favorite target, especially itong mga barangay captains na proactive in
favor of government. They are always the object of assassination,” he said.
“Sige
lang tutal ang sundalo may mahuli isa, dalawa, magpipiyait (squeal) naman ‘yan
kung ano, then we would know what to do with you. What you can do, I can do
better ten times over. Ang kaya ninyo, kaya kong gawin. So I would know how to
deal with you,” he warned.
On
behalf of the nation, the President expressed his gratitude to the families of
those who perished, assuring them that the fallen heroes would attain justice.
“But
I’d like the soldiers to know and the families of the fallen heroes that the
nation is very grateful to you and we would know also how to reciprocate their
bravery. Itong lahat na ito, tutal identified man ‘yan sila, baka hindi matago
eh. Justice will be served sa kanila in the end,” he said.
PND
