(Eagle News) — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday, Dec. 20, vowed to continue military operations against Communist rebels, even as they currently hold hostage 14 people, including two soldiers.
“I have read in the newspapers (the rebels) want us to stop operations in their areas. But we will not stop,” Lorenzana said.
According to Lorenzana, they were committed to ending the Communist insurgency, which spans over 50 years, during the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Yun nga ‘yata yung gusto nilang gamitin diyan… ‘yung gamitin nilang leverage itong mga hostages,” Lorenzana said.
On Wednesday, Dec. 19, around 50 New People’s Army rebels attacked the New Tubigon Patrol Base in Sibagat, Agusan Del Sur, and took hostage 12 members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit and two soldiers.
The military has said it was so far conducting pursuit operations against the rebels.
