DAVAO CITY — The Lorenzo family-owned Lapanday Foods Corp. (LFC) has decided not to revive its plant for packaging materials located here, which was burned down by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) on April 29.
Jun 142017
Mar 222014
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has raised the alarm on possible hostilities by the New People’s Army as the Communist Party of the Philippines’ armed wing approaches its founding anniversary, a military official said on Saturday. In a text message to GMA News Online, Armed Forces public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said they have intensified “combat operations in all areas of interest against [the communist rebels] to prevent them from launching attacks and for [government troops] to dictate on the momentum of the focused military operations.” “This increase of operational tempo is inherent in every command as we deny the enemy from their terroristic acts against our people,” he added. Last week, at least four suspected NPA rebels, two of whom are allegedly high-ranking officers, were captured by the military after a firefight in Sorsogon. Captain Bethany Cadungan, spokesperson for the Army’s 903rd Infantry Brigade, said Elias Florentino Pura, Rodrigo Lasar, William Doroja, and one alias “Ino” were captured after around 10 minutes of fighting. Lt. Col. Medel Aguilar, 9th Infantry Division spokesman, said Pura surrendered and yielded an M653 baby armalite rifle. The military also seized a cal. 45 pistol, two improvised explosive devices, a hand grenade, a laptop, and backpacks containing personal belongings. Pura is the secretary of Larangan 1, Komprob (Komiteng Probinsya) Sorsogon while Ino is the finance officer of the NPA in Sorsogon, the military said. He is also reportedly the finance officer of the Bicol regional party committee. Colonel Joselito Kakilala, commander of Read More …
Jul 102013
MANILA, July 8 (Mabuhay) — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday said that it was more than prepared to respond should the New People’s Army (NPA) would decide to go ahead with its plan to conduct vengeance attacks against civilian and military targets in Sorsogon. This is in the wake of the […]
Jun 172013
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Despite a report saying that the New People’s Army (NPA) has lost hope in ever forging peace with the government due to certain violations, a Palace spokesperson on Monday remained adamant that the government has done all it can to forge peace. “We would like to have a peace agreement with them but […]
Jun 052013
The United States was just being “prudent” when it issued an alert notice to its citizens in the Philippines, Malacañang said Wednesday as it downplayed the advisory. “That’s part of their alert notice to their citizens. Very recently, they made a travel alert also. Again, this part of their being prudent as someone who would like to protect their citizens here,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing. In an advisory, the US State Department cited the growing terrorist groups particularly in Mindanao that are targeting foreigners. The report also classified the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed branch, the New People’s Army (NPA), as terrorist groups. Lacierda said although the notorious Abu Sayyaf bandit group still exists, its numbers have been “effectively decimated” by the military. “We are aware of the presence of Abu Sayyaf. It is not a secret but the Abu Sayyaf is more or less a bandit group already. Our Armed Forces have effectively decimated their numbers,” he said. “They have been reduced to a kidnap-for-ransom group and that’s the status right now, and we continue to pursue lawless elements in the country,” Lacierda added. Lacierda, however, refused to comment on the US State Department’s classification of the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group. “Well, it’s not for us to say ‘do we agree or not’. That’s how they would like to classify the CPP-NPA,” he said. — Patricia Denise Chiu/KBK, GMA News
May 032013
MANILA, Apr 30 (Mabuhay) — Akbayan Citizen’s Action Party chairperson and Team PNoy senatorial candidate Risa Hontiveros urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate “illegal checkpoints” set up by the New People’s Army (NPA) in certain areas. In a 3-page letter complaint, Hontiveros cited the recent ambush try on 78-year-old Guingoog City Mayor Ruthie […]