DND rejects NPA help in operations versus ISIS-inspired Maute group

The Department of National Defense has rejected the Communist Party of the Philippines' offer for the New People's Army to help in the military and the PNP's operations against the ISIS-inspired Maute group in Marawi City.

The NPA was only one of the armed groups that have offered to help the Philippine government in ridding Marawi of the bandits. The others were the Moro groups MILF and MNLF.

"Hindi kami open diyan dahil in fact we brand them as terrorists eh," Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said when asked about the CPP-NPA's offer of military assistance.

"Kung pumunta sila rito na may mga armas sila, we will ask them to surrender kasi hindi naman sila pwedeng makialam dito so huwag na silang makialam dito. We are trying to convince the NPAs to surrender," he added.

Lorenzana said there was only one Armed Forces and one police force tasked to enforce the law in the country.

"Tutulong dito? There is only one armed forces saka one police force dito sa bansa. Ngayon kung pupunta sila dito at armado sila, ibig sabihin we are recognizing them as another armed force. Hindi pwede yun. Isa lang. Dapat isa lang," Lorenzana said.

"Until such time that they are integrated into the armed forces, hindi sila pwedeng makialam," he added.

The integration of rebel returnees are among the issues raised in peace talks with the armed insurgents. —NB, GMA News