Sunday, December 21, 2008 Army on red alert vs NPA threats By Victor L. Camion
THE military remains on red alert status despite the five-day unilateral ceasefire declared by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on its official website, an Army official said.
Colonel Cesar Yano, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade based in Camp Leon Kilat, Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, said the CPP posted on Philippine Revolution Web Central recently that it is also declaring its own unilateral ceasefire with the government troops.
In the same post, the CPP said they have instructed the New People's Army (NPA) to implement a unilateral truce on December 24-26 and on December 31 to January 1, 2009 "in unity with the Filipino people's holiday traditions."
Earlier, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the Department of National Defense (DND) will suspend military operations against the NPA on December 24 and 25 and December 31 and January 1, 2009.
Yano said, despite the NPA truce, the military would be on red alert on December 26, when the CPP marks its 40th anniversary.
He assured that whether there is a suspension of military operations (Somo) or not, the military will remain on high alert.
Yano, however, said: "If there will be a threat [during the duration of the truce] that means there is already a provocative act on the part of the CPP-NPA, the AFP have more reason to response accordingly."
According to Lieutenant Colonel Erwin Bernard Neri, commanding officer of the 79th Infantry Battalion, the NPA's declaration of unilateral ceasefire during the yuletide season is not new to the government forces.
"They do that every year," said Neri in a phone interview, adding that they never trust the communist rebels at all times.
Lieutenant Colonel Franco Gacal, chief of 11th IB, said the NPA-led truce is a welcome development for the government "in the spirit of Christmas."
"The NPA must give the community a peaceful holiday season," he said, adding that while the Army appreciates that move, "we still don't lower our guards against possible NPA atrocities to inflict vital installations."
For its part, the rebel group said: "Even as the NPA exercises restraint in initiating offensive operations, every unit, officer and Red fighter should at the same time heighten vigilance against the expected treachery of the US-Arroyo regime and its fascist armed troops."
The rebels posted on their website that during the period of ceasefire, "all NPA units should be on active defense mode, closely monitor the movements and maneuvers of AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) forces and decisively counter all enemy offensives and acts of treachery."
