CBCP slams NPA attack on soldiers helping ‘Urduja’ victims

FILE: Fr. Edwin Gariguez (Photo by CBCP News)

MANILA — The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) slammed the attack by New People’s Army (NPA) against government forces who provided relief to calamity victims in Northern Samar.

“The ambush of soldiers while delivering relief goods is deplorable!” said Fr. Edu Gariguez, executive secretary of CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace (NASSA).

“In emergency humanitarian operation, the military should not be targeted for offensive attack by the NPA, particularly if they are bringing relief goods to flood victims,” he furthered.

With this, the Catholic priest renewed its call to end the armed conflict between the government and the NPA.

“We are advocating for peaceful and just resolution of armed conflict. Peace talks should proceed and ceasefire should be observed by both parties during Christmas and even beyond,” Gariguez added.

The military, however, earlier said it is not inclined to declare a holiday truce with the communist terrorists, adding that such attack validates the government’s decision to scrap peace talks with the latter.

On Sunday, two soldiers were hurt after they were ambushed by NPA brigands while they were on their way to a relief operation in Catubig, Northern Samar which was hit by tropical depression ‘Urduja’.