New Peoples’ Army National Spokesperson Ka Oris (davaotoday.com file photo)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The New People’s Army on Saturday said that it is on “heightened armed resistance” against the government’s all-out war declaration.
“All NPA commands and territorial units, as well as people’s militia and self defense units, can now take the full initiative to defend the people and advance their interests, especially in the face of the declaration of all-out war of the Duterte regime,” NPA spokesman Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos said in a statement sent to the media.
The NPA’s statement came as its Unilateral Declaration of Interim Ceasefire has terminated on Saturday.
“No longer restricted by the active defense policy, the NPA, from hereon, must frustrate the all out war of suppression of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) by launching launch tactical offensives against any legitimate military target,” Madlos said.
Madlos said that possible target of NPAs offensive operations are “legitimate military target, including active troops of the AFP and PNP, paramilitary or AFP-supported armed vigilante groups, intelligence operatives, and warlord private armies in detachments, camps or operations within and beyond the NPA guerrilla zones.”
The government’s “all-out-war” against the NPA came after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte terminated the peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. Duterte’s announcement was made after the CPP-NPA suspended its truce declaration.
Madlos, however, said “the NPA remains open to peace talks while fighting rages in the countryside. At the same time, the revolutionary masses welcome the call for tactical offensives that will strengthen the people’s army and advance the people’s war towards genuine and just peace.” (davaotoday.com)
