AFP denies announcing P100,000 reward money for every NPA member

August 11, 2017

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) denied announcing the 100,000 pesos reward for the neutralization of every NPA members.

“There was no such announcement made by the AFP on the reported 100 thousand pesos reward money for every member of terrorist NPA,” Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesman, said in a statement on Friday.

“Just as there is no existing AFP policy governing such rewards, the AFP denies allocating such amount for such purpose,” he added.

Arevalo issued a statement after a newspaper reported that AFP Chief of Staff General Eduardo Ano said so last Thursday.

“The reported reward that was attributed to the AFP could be that which was put up by local government of Negros Occidental and stakeholders in the province for any information that will lead to the neutralization of terrorists, members of illegal drugs syndicates and other organized crime groups to include bandit groups like the New People's Army that perennially victimize local residents and businesses,” he said.

“This was the local  LGU and some civic entities' response to the repulsive terrorist atrocities by syndicated groups feeding on helpless civilians and businessmen who have become fed up with the NPA's criminal acts,” he added.

Arevalo noted that “the recourse taken by the local government and their partner-stakeholders may help boost the AFP's fight to counter these terrorists and syndicated criminals is only incidental.”

“But we appreciate their valiant stand against these menaces to society. That manifests theirs and stakeholders' united resolve to protect their constituents and residents,” he said.

“That was intended to solidify support for and engender cooperation with government to counter these terrorist-bandit-organized crime groups,” he added. Robina Asido/DMS