RIZAL PROVINCE – New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas have claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack on an elite police unit that left four lawmen dead in the boundary of Antipolo City and Baras, this province.

In a statement posted on the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) website, rebel spokesman Macario “Ka Karyo” Liwanag described Tuesday’s attack as “a successful tactical offensive.”

“The success of the tactical offensive of the NPA-Rizal is a clear manifestation that the [military and police] did not succeed in winning the hearts and minds of the people of Rizal province,” said Liwanag, spokesman of the NPA’s Narciso Antazo Aramil Command.

Liwanag also admitted that they are now conducting an internal investigation to see if they were at fault in the wounding of a civilian in Tuesday’s incident.

“To the civilian reported to be caught in the crossfire, investigation is under way to ferret out the truth. If the injury was caused by NPA fire, we are willing to take our full responsibility and the NPA unit involved shall be dealt with accordingly,” he said.

Liwanag also called on civilians, including politicians campaigning inside NPA territories, not to ride military vehicles to avoid being caught in the crossfire. He said all police and military facilities including vehicles that enter NPA territories are targets.