The Philippine National Police (PNP) condemned the latest atrocities by communist terrorists on humanitarian and disaster response missions in the Visayas and Mindanao.

In a statement on Thursday night, PNP chief, Gen. Dionardo Carlos echoed the condemnation by the Department of the Interior and Local Government officials of the twin attacks by New People’s Army (NPA) members in Samar and Surigao del Sur provinces on government personnel and civilians engaged in preemptive evacuations ahead of the onslaught of Typhoon Odette.

“These are totally deplorable actions by the local communist terrorists that deserve the strongest condemnation of civil society,” he said.

Carlos vowed to mobilize the full might of the PNP to “arrest the authors and actors of these crimes against humanity”.

In Barangay Esperanza, Carmen, Surigao del Sur, communist rebels ambushed a convoy of soldiers, health workers, and evacuees moving to safer grounds on Wednesday as local authorities ordered a preemptive evacuation of residents in low-lying areas.

Surigao del Sur Governor Alexander Pimentel said two civilians were wounded in the incident.

Also on Wednesday, two PNP Special Action Force troops and a civilian were wounded in another NPA attack in Barangay del Rosario, Matuguinao, Samar while police and local government authorities were prepositioning relief supplies to high-risk communities along the projected path of ‘Odette’.

Wounded in the attack were Cpl. Abner Balante, Cpl. Manuel Carlos, and civilian Jomar Diaz. (PNA)