Local NPA a ‘puppet’, says brigade commander

One of the commanders of the Philippine Army in Negros is already expecting that the local insurgents from the New People’s Army (NPA) will reject their offer of holding localized peace talks.

Philippine Army 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IBde) commander Col. Michael Samson said he is not surprised that the NPA will reject the offers of peace and is proof that the NPA in Negros is acting as “puppets” for the central committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Samson said the NPA’s rejection of peace is also proof that they do not want to resolve the problems in Negros.

Despite the rejection, however, Samson said the door remains open for the other small NPA groups operating in the island who want a way out of the conflict and resolve their problems through the negotiating table instead.

He also said government forces in Negros will continue their work in making sure the province remains safe and peaceful for everyone.

Earlier this week, the NPA’s Apolinario Gatmaitan Command had rejected the peace terms and have threatened to mount tactical offensives against government forces.

Samson had already warned previously that the 303IBde will mercilessly hunt NPA rebels if they refuse the government’s peace offers.

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, meanwhile, had issued an appeal to the rebels to lay down their arms and benefit from the programs of the government.* (DGB)