Manila, Philippines – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has recorded a total of 62 terror attacks by New People’s Army rebels since January this year.

AFP public affairs chief Col. Edgard Arevalo on 20 March 2017 called on the NPA that it should be sincere in light of the resumption of the peace talks this April. They should stop their terroristic activities, which are not limited to abduction, arson, extortion, ambush, and harassment.

Col. Alevaro said, “If the NPA are really sincere and one with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in their intent to resume the talks with government, they should start manifesting their intention by putting a stop to their terroristic activities which continue to harm our citizens and halt development in the communities”.
The AFP had earlier stated that combat operations against the NPA will continue despite the resumption of the peace talks until an official instruction stating otherwise is given by the president. On the part of the AFP, 129 members of the NPA have been neutralized, 23 were killed, 19 arrested, and 87 surrendered. The AFP on the other hand have lost 14 soldiers, 36 wounded, and three were abducted since the start of the year.