NPAs as spoilers of progress

DURING the recent Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) meetings in Manila, President Rodrigo Duterte noted the advantages of the hosting of such international events in the country in the many spectrums—regional peace and stability, economic growth, investment, among others. The Bicol region is also expectant to reap the numerous economic benefits from Asean.

I am a Bicolana and one of the local organizers of the planned Asean meetings in Legazpi City. Until now I am still saddened by the bad news that the conduct of Asean meeting in Albay was cancelled for the second time because of the threat posed by the communist New People’s Army (NPA). From the reports we obtained from the security sector of the Asean meetings, the NPAs planned to conduct attacks during the meetings with the use improvised explosive devices (IEDS), which could have put the lives of the delegates at risk.