PNP says it expects more NPA attacks as Duterte address approaches

July 20, 2017

Philippine National Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa said Thursday more attacks  nationwide from the New People's Army (NPA) are expected  before the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte on July 24. "Now, they have a plan of pre SONA  atrocities nationwide. So, you expect that even in the provinces that has few sightings of NPA, they will go there and do something", Dela Rosa said in a press conference at Camp Crame. Ground commanders are instructed to be vigilant that if an NPA was seen in their area they should conduct an operation in coordination with the Philippine Army, he said. Dela Rosa said he ordered to distribute the  2900 rifles from China and millions of rounds of  ammunition to the police. "For them to fight eagerly and do not get beaten to the NPA I told them do not let yourselves overrun by them, fight. I ordered to bring down the firearms so they can have a bigger chance to repel the attacks of NPA", he said. Dela Rosa said the provinces with NPA presence are: almost all the provinces in southeastern Mindanao and northern Mindanao, Region II, Quirino province, Cagayan Valley, Samar, Leyte and IloIlo. Dela Rosa said PNP will follow the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte regarding suspending peace talks with the NPA. "I just go by the decision of the national leadership if President said yes, then we are also yes, if no then we are no too", he said. At least four members of the Presidential Security Group were injured in Arakan, Cotabato after an encounter with the NPA last Wednesday. Duterte told the peace panel negotiating with the  NDF  on Tuesday to stop formal peace talks with the communist group unless they agreed to stop their attacks and extortion. (Alanna Ambi/DMS)