Rebels Attack Philippine President’s Convoy, Injure 4 Bodyguards

No fewer than four body guards of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte sustained various degree of injuries after suspected communist rebels attacked the president’s convoy.

The unknown gunmen opened fire on two Presidential Security Group vehicles along a highway on the main southern island of Mindanao. Duterte was not in the country, Authorities say.

The authorities further confirmed that the insurgents had warned of the attack days before executing it.

The ambush came a day after Duterte asked Congress for authorisation to place Mindanao under martial law until December to defeat Islamic State group-styled militants fighting security forces in the city of Marawi.

A 60-day martial rule is already in place over the island after the militants attacked Marawi on May 23.

Brigadier General Gilberto Gapay, a senior Mindanao military official blamed the New People’s Army wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, for the ambush.

“This is part of their nationwide call for armed groups to oppose martial law by launching intensified offensives against government forces,” Gapay told radio station DZBB in Manila.
The communist party, on Tuesday called on its armed wing to launch offensives in response to Duterte’s extended martial law plan.

Reacting to the ambush, President Duterte condemned the attack, announcing he will provide all soldiers with pistols for self-defence.

In Philippine soldiers are not allowed to carry their assault rifles when they are off-duty.

“The majority of the people have repudiated communism with all its brutality, and (they have) nothing really to offer to the country. It’s almost bankrupt,” Duterte added.