PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

NPA Red fighters helping people rebuild homes, farms - CPP
December 1, 2004

Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal said Red fighters of the New People's Army (NPA) in areas struck by successive typhoons are helping out victims of floodings and landslides in rebuilding their houses and recovering from setbacks brought about by heavy rains during the past several days.

"We join the rest of the Filipino people in expressing utmost sympathy with the hundreds who lost their lives in floods and landslides in Aurora, Quezon, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija provinces," Rosal said. He said people living in and around mountainous areas have long been demanding a stop to all large-scale logging being carried out under the protection of the military.

"Wherever they are, NPA Red fighters will be helping the people rebuild their houses and assisting in their recovery from economic setbacks," Rosal said.

At the same time, Rosal called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) "to respect the plight of the victims and refrain from conducting offensive military operations under the guise of 'relief-and-rescue' operations."

Rosal was reacting to news reports that around ten soldiers belonging to the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) were killed in an NPA ambush in San Rafael Bulacan, Tuesday afternoon. The AFP claims they were undertaking rescue operations to help typhoon victims.

Rosal said he still has to receive a complete report from the NPA unit involved, but cited NOLCOM statements that the AFP unit that was ambushed had detached itself from ongoing rescue operations precisely to conduct military operations against the NPA.

Thus, said Rosal, they were no longer on a "mercy mission" but were armed, dangerous and on the offensive.

Reference:
Anne Buenaventura
Media Officer
Cellphone Number: +63910-240-3553



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