PNP believes Communists not sincere

June 19, 2017

Philippine National Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa said he does not believe the National Democratic Front, the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines, will keep its word when it says it will cease offensive operations in Mindanao. In an ambush interview on Monday, Dela Rosa said: “I don’t know if they are really serious… If they are really serious they would not do something like that. I don't know how serious they are but we are not taking their word. That’s it. Just to be sure.” A police station in Ma-asin, Iloilo was attacked by the New People’s Army, police said. They carted away cash, laptops, mobile phones, cash. They left in a police vehicle, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in the "Mindanao Hour" briefing that the raid happened on the same day when the government reciprocated the NDF's declaration to refrain from undertaking offensive operations in Mindanao. Dela Rosa said the rebels timed the attack when the soldiers joined the forces fighting in Marawi City. The 5th round of peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front was put off after the Philippine National Police sent its fighters in Marawi City. Dela Rosa said he is still open to discuss peace with the NPA. “For me, it’s hard to close the avenue for peace through peace talks. We are still open even though they always do that. Although sometimes we are losing our trust but they are still Filipinos”, he said. Dela Rosa said President Rodrigo Duterte’s remark on pulling out the military force in Marawi City may be just an “act of frustration”. “Well that is his decision. If he wants to pull out but it may be an act of frustration since we have lost many lives. There are a lot of soldiers and cops wounded”, he said. Dela Rosa said the alleged death of the Maute brothers is not confirmed. “Unless we recover the body or if our forces told us that those bodies belonged to them then they are dead” he said. (Alanna Ambi/DMS)