Military prepared for NPA attack despite Rody assurance
By Funny Pearl A. Gajunera
10th Infantry Division Commander Major General Eduardo Año said the military is not letting its guards down for any security threats during the 2015 Palarong Pambansa despite the assurance made by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte that there will be no terror threat during the week-long national games in Davao del Norte.
Año that there are no assurance that there will be no Military encounter against New People’s Army (NPA) during the duration of the Palaro where some 17,000 delegates and tourists are expected to converge for the biggest sports conclave in the country.
Earlier, Mayor Duterte asked the NPA and the Military to avoid encounters during the event for the security of the athletes who will join the event.
Año said that although they respect the word of Mayor Duterte, he still cannot guarantee that there will be no encounters during the May 3-9 event at Davao del Norte.
“We respect and welcome the words of Mayor Duterte, however there are some units from the NPA who doesn’t follow the order of their leaders,” he said.
“Even before na may month long na ceasefire ang AFP tyaka NPA, mag mga nangyayari parin na pag labag sa ceasefire, so we cannot guarantee,” added the two star general.
The miklitary official also said that with or without the commitment of the rebel groups that there will be no atrocities during the event, the Army will still prepare themselves to prevent unnecessary encounters.
On Monday, Duterte assured all participants of the upcoming Palarong Pambansa that there will be no disruption from the NPA during the entire event.
“I am 100 percent that they will not do any harm. They do not want to do it to me,” he said.
Duterte said that the rebels are even welcome to Davao del Norte to watch the entire event.
The mayor is known to be in communication with the NPA and has been even secured the release of several “prisoners of war.”
He also said as Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) chair, he can assure the safety of all participants and the entire Region 11.
But while he said that he expects nothing bad to happen, he is “always prepare for anything.”
Over two thousand Military personnel are tasked to secure Davao del Norte and the entire Outer Security of the venue.
