The Joint Task Force Peacock (JTFP) said on Monday that they are on alert and ready to respond anytime with regard to the threats made by the New People’s Army (NPA) to some of the officials and municipal mayors of Palawan.
“Kung sa threat naman, we already talked to some of the mayors, kasi as you all know naman, hindi naman natin mabantayan lahat 24 hours. However, we are on alert and ready to respond anytime,” said JTFP Commander BGEN Charlton Sean M. Gaerlan.
“We already talked to some of the mayors na pakiramdaman din nila yung paligid nila, [higpitan] ‘yung security nila and they have also the local police [sa] bawat municipality na talagang ‘yun ang control nila,” he added.
These threats started coming in after the municipal council passed the resolution declaring the CPP-NPA-NDF as “persona non grata” or someone who is unwelcome in a particular place or whose presence is prohibited by the government.
According to one of the statements made by the New People’s Army / Salvador Luminoso | NPA-Palawan (Bienvenido Vallever Command) in their official website, “Ang pagdedeklara nito ay kasingkahulugan na rin ng inyong tahasang paglaban at pagdedeklara ng gyera laban sa rebolusyonaryong kilusan. At kung gayun ay maaaring maglagay sa inyo sa isang peligrosong sitwasyon.”
“So dapat [aware], and lahat, kahit sino naman tao dapat aware siya kung may sumusunod sa kanya, kung may nag-mamanman para ma-report sa atin, para magawan din natin ng immediate action, because if they report it [to us] immediately, then we can also act immediately,” Gaerlan stated.
WESCOM Commander VADM Rene V. Medina also mentioned that if the officials feel that their life is being threatened, it’s just a matter of really helping them by informing them if they think that the NPA is in their area.
He said, “Wag silang matakot, talagang magsabi [sila], [kasi] hindi namin din malalaman kung hindi sila magsasabi sa amin. Kaya magsabi kayo, kung sa palagay niyo sa barangay niyo may kahina-hinala kayong tao doon na talagang hindi kagaya niyo, feel free to call us, particularly the Joint Task Force Peacock, the marines, or the police.”
“Doon sa mga nananakot sa lokal na government executives natin, maybe if they are listening right now, they have to tell us also what’s their problem, so we can discuss things. Mag-usap tayo kung gusto [niyo], kung ano mang problema niyo, kung pwede nating mapag-usapan, pag-usapan natin, kami ayaw din namin ng giyera, we have families also, ang unang sakripisyo sa giyera, ang mga sundalo natin. If they are listening, maybe we can talk. Kung ano man ‘yung pinaglalaban niyo, baka pwedeng mapag-usapan at magawan ng paraan,” Medina added.
Furthermore, Medina assured that Palawan is 100% safe from other terrorist groups. And should anyone need their assistance, they can call 3rd Marine Brigade Hotline Number: 0926 716 6659 (Globe).
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