Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio described the attacks perpetrated by the New People’s Army in the city as “acts of terrorism”.
“I take what happened today as a personal insult especially because the local government of Davao City has been supportive of the peace negotiations between the national government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the political umbrella that covers the armed guerrilla movement,” said the mayor. “And because I have repeatedly offered to talk peace with the members of the NPA within Davao City.”
At the same time, the city mayor stressed that the city government as well as the police and the military establishments are on top of the situation.
On Saturday morning, members of the 1st Pulang Bagani Battalion NPA-SMR attacked the Lapanday Foods Corporation in Barangay Mandug, Davao City, disarmed security guards at Lapanday’s 2 box plants before setting fire to several equipment.
New People’s Army-Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command spokesman Rigoberto Sanchez said in a statement the said battalion “victoriously launched 3 simultaneous tactical offensives in Davao City against the Lorenzo-owned companies and ranch starting at around 2 am today.”
“The PBB’s coordinated tactical offensives served as punitive action against the Lorenzos for their numerous crimes against agricutural workers, peasants and Lumad,” added Sanchez.
Carpio stressed that the city government condemns these acts committed by a group that pretends to champion social justice and equality.
“With its history of carrying out atrocities and its continued penchant for lawlessness and bloodbath, the NPA is an organization that is not worthy of our trust and respect,” she declared.
The city mayor extended her sympathies to the general public caught in the violence, the victims of these attacks, and their families.
She further assured the people of Davao that the city as well as the PNP and AFP “are on top of the situation”.
“Let us support our police and the military by openly condemning the NPA as a terrorist organization”, said Carpio.
Meanwhile, on her instagram account, the mayor posted a photo of a fish vendor who was injured in a landmine blast during the NPA attack.
Supt. Jed Clamor of Police Regional 11 earlier said elements of Task Force Davao and the police were en route to the fire in Barangay Mandug when the landmine exploded, injuring a vendor.
