Tuesday, July 08, 2008 AFP tells LGUs: Be careful in allowing rallies
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) urged local government units (LGUs) to refrain from issuing rally permits after rebels, who disguised themselves as rallyists, raided the town hall of Banaybanay in Davao Oriental last week.
Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) spokesman Major Armand Rico said they expected protest actions to happen in the said town after the military intensified its military operations in the area.
He advised the mayors to "be careful in giving permit to rally to avoid the same incident from happening again."
The AFP also condemned the tactic used by the New People's Army (NPA) wherein the rebels allegedly used rallyists as decoy and human shields so that police personnel in the area could not retaliate to rebel fires.
Reports reaching Sun.Star Davao however showed that the rebels were the ones posing as rallyists and that some of them even advised civilians in the area to flee and hide.
Major General Armando Cunanan, meanwhile, said the Banaybanay attack is just part of the rebel group's tactic to project a strong image to the public when in fact they are already losing the battle against the government.
"The rebels are raiding soft targets now. Kasi alam nila na pag kami ang hinarap nila ay tiyak mawawasak sila," Cunanan said.
Rico said they have now alerted and intensified their intelligence efforts to prevent another rebel raid in their area of responsibility.
Last week's raid is the third in the past three weeks.
Rebels also raided the police stations of Dapa and General Luna in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte that resulted to a four-day battle that spread to two other towns in Surigao.
Cunanan vowed to get even with the rebels anytime soon. (BOT)
