Duterte hits NPA for attack as Urduja relief work was underway | ABS-CBN

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Duterte hits NPA for attack as Urduja relief work was underway

Duterte hits NPA for attack as Urduja relief work was underway

Dharel Placido,

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated Dec 18, 2017 07:36 PM PHT

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Members iof the Search and rescue group search for bodies from the massive landslide in Barangay Lucsoon, Naval, Biliran on Monday. Photo courtesy of Police Regional Office 8

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday slammed the New People’s Army (NPA) for attacking state troops who were supposedly deployed to help in relief operations for the victims of tropical cyclone “Urduja”.

Two soldiers were wounded when about 50 NPA fighters opened fire at them in Catubig, Northern Samar on Sunday. The attack and ensuing firefight sent typhoon-affected residents into panic, the military said.

“I strongly protest and condemn the actions of the New People’s Army,” Duterte said during a briefing with Cabinet members and other government officials in Biliran, the province hardest hit by Urduja.

“I would say that this is something which I have been telling you all along. It (NPA) does not have the ideology anymore… Wala na itong redeeming factor. The ideology they nurtured for years is already gone.”

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Because of the incident, Duterte reiterated his order for the military to “finish off” the communist rebels.

“Itong mga sundalo natin, it would be good to just adopt a policy of ‘no quarters given, no quarters asked,’” he said.

“Tumutulong na nga, pinagbabaril pa.”

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier declared the NPA and its political wing, the Communist Party of the Philippines, as terrorist organizations, whose "violent acts... sow and create a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace."

Duterte terminated peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in November purportedly over the NPA’s continued assaults against state troops.

The President was in Naval, Biliran to oversee government’s response to the disaster. He said he was satisfied with the government’s preparations for the cyclone’s assault over the weekend.

“I’m happy my government is functioning [well]. Together with the officials, we promise that we will rebuild immediately yung mga infrastructure ninyo,” Duterte said.

At least 31 people died and 49 were reported missing as a result of the storm's passage.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the fatalities include 23 from Biliran, 5 from Leyte, 2 from Samar, and 1 from Eastern Samar.

Thirty-three were also reported missing in Biliran, 11 in Eastern Samar, 3 in Leyte, and 2 in Romblon. Duterte ordered authorities to expedite operations to rescue the missing people.

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