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Southeast Asia
Duterte: Wipe out the New People's Army
2017-07-31
[Inquirer] President Rodrigo Duterte wants done in the next five years what Philippine leaders have failed to do in half a century — wipe out communist rebels.

Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Duterte’s instructions to him were to focus next on fighting the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, after the government finishes off remnants of the Maute group in Marawi City. It is not certain, however, when the war on the Maute Group in Marawi would end and that on the NPA would begin, which Dela Rosa described would be a “full scale” campaign.

Dela Rosa said that he was personally asked by the President to focus next on the NPA after the Marawi campaign is over. He said Duterte gave the instruction while they were on their way to Dumaguete City on Thursday to visit the wake of policemen who were killed in a clash with the NPA in Guihulngan City. Dela Rosa said, "The President told me ‘you better get ready, we will wipe out all NPA [members] after the problem in Marawi."

Dela Rosa said the highest number of NPA members was in Agusan, Davao and Surigao in Mindanao and Negros, Iloilo and Samar in the Visayas. Cebu and other parts in the Visayas are rebel-free, he said.

Dela Rosa said he was confident that Cebuanos and people in Central Visayas would shun the NPA and any terrorist group. He cited the case of 11 Abu Sayyaf militants who tried to penetrate Bohol through Inabanga town in April. Tips from residents helped authorities track the rebels down and kill them in separate operations that lasted for more than a month.

Dela Rosa questioned the sincerity of communist rebels in peace talks with the government because of continued attacks by the NPA on government forces.
Posted by:ryuge

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