Maoist rebels in the Philippines are planning to stage an attack in Davao City days before the president's State of the Nation Address (SONA) scheduled on July 24.
Police National Director General Ronald Dela Rosa confirmed that they have received intelligence information that the Maoist-inspired New People's Army (NPA) is preparing to launch an attack in Davao City, the hometown of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
Dela Rosa said the police organization has been monitoring the movements of NPA rebels in Davao region and said that the force is prepared to tackle any attack.
The police general also said that he is seeking the cooperation of the public to report any information.
"We appeal to the public to cooperate with the police and let us help each other to promote peace and order in our communities," Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa was taken aback by the information that despite the ongoing peace talks between the Philippines and leadership of the NPA, some NPA rebels continue to attack police detachments in the country.
He said that the hard reality of life is that there will be a forthcoming intense fire fight with NPA rebels if the latter is not sincere with the peace dialogues with the government. "Our duty is always to protect our people so the outcome of the peace talks will largely depend on the NPA rebels," Dela Rosa said.
The Philippine government and the leadership of the New People's Army have cancelled several peace talks as a result of the NPA rebels' attacks against police stations and Philippine soldiers detachments.
Despite Duterte's appeal that he wanted to have a peaceful resolution to the armed conflict between the NPA and Philippine military, the NPA announced armed offensives against Philippine soldiers.
