Army ordered to attack New People’s Army in Negros Occidental

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Two Army battalions in Negros Occidental have been ordered to attack the New People’s Army (NPA), following reports that the communist rebels would mount tactical offensives across the country.

Col. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, earlier urged Negrenses to condemn the  rebels and their “affiliated bogus human rights groups,” stressing that they are trying to “make fools out of the Filipino people by making the people believe that they are real advocates of human rights.”

Arevalo also asked the public to condemn not only the NPA, but also the Communist Party of the Philippines and National Democratic Front.

The military official accused the communists of hiding “under the cloak of legality.”