BACOLOD City – “Violence, killing and extortion are never worth celebrating.”
This was the statement of Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IB) of the Philippine Army slamming the New People’s Army (NPA) during the rebels’ 50th anniversary on March 29.
“Causing misery and destruction to our country for half a century is not a reason to celebrate,” Arevalo stressed.
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and National Democratic Front (NDF) are only sowing discontent and hatred against the government, he said.
The recent arrest of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Francisco “Frank” Fernandez and his wife Cleofe Lagtapon in Laguna was not a reason to celebrate, he added.
Arevalo assured the NPA members that the military will still extend its hands of reconciliation to those who want to have a second chance of living normal lives.
He also urged the NPAs to rethink before conniving to CPP and NDF.
“It is not yet too late to go back to the folds of law and have peaceful and normal lives together with their families and love ones,” the Brigadier General said./PN
