By Lane Afable, News Editor
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government backs efforts to investigate the series of clashes between government troops and alleged New People’s Army (NPA) members in Taboso town, Negros Occidental, that resulted in casualties.
“According to the AFP, legitimate military operation ang naganap, at ang sabi din ni (AFP Chief) General Brawner, they were armed,” Castro said in a Palace press briefing on Monday.
“Magpapaimbestiga sila sa Commission on Human Rights, hindi naman pipigilan para malaman ang katotohanan dito,” she added.
Reports had it that three individuals were among the fatalities in the Negros Occidental clashes.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said it has begun an independent investigation into the clashes.
Asked about President Marcos’ directive during last week’s National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Executive Committee on the government’s fight against communist insurgency, Castro said the President’s order is to continue fighting the terrorists and communists.
“Dapat labanan ang terorismo, dapat labanan ang komunismo. Iyong mga maaaring nanggugulo sa ating bayan. So, iyon lamang, basta dapat legal ang ginagawa,” she said.
During the meeting, the NTF-ELCAC Executive Committee endorsed key policy directions to ensure more responsive governance at the national and local levels.
Among the recommendations are the proposed extension of the Amnesty Program, prioritization of critical legislation, expansion of development funding, and the enhancement of Task Force mechanisms to ensure more responsive governance at the national and local levels.
