Thursday, July 24, 2008 NPA assassins in Metro to do liquidations: military
THE military's National Capital Region Command (NCRcom) on Wednesday disclosed the arrival of a group of New People's Army (NPA) assassins in Metro Manila to conduct liquidation operations in time for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's State of the Nation Address (Sona).
In a press briefing, NCRcom commander Arsenio Arugay said the target of the assassins includes police and military personnel, VIPs (very important persons) and other people who may become the target of opportunity by the rebels.
"They are going to conduct sparrow operations from now or maybe after the Sona (on Monday). The thing is they are going to conduct sparrow operations. We have information indicating that they have some elements that are here already," said Arugay.
NCRcom is playing a support role to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in maintaining peace and order during the Sona. The NCRPO is deploying 6,000 policemen on Monday while NCRcom is placing on standby at least 3,000 soldiers for the event.
"We, from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), are their number one target and some other VIPs and others whom we call as target of opportunity. But they have no specific (individuals) as targets," said Arugay.
Communist sparrow operations were at its peak in the late 1980s and early 1990s when the Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB) was still in existence.
The ABB has killed in liquidation operations a number of high-profile personalities in Metro Manila, including US Army Colonel James Rowe, Army Colonel Ronaldo Abadilla, Police Major Jose Pring and Police Major Timoteo Zarcal.
"We don't know when they came in (to Metro Manila) but we have reports that some are already here. We have no specific number (of the communist assassins)," said Arugay. "The sparrows that are operating in Metro Manila traditionally come from all over the country, a lot of them came from Samar," he added.
"We don't really consider it (from the sparrows) a very serious threat but of course they are threats to the peace and order particularly to the personal safety of soldiers, policemen and some government personalities," the Army general also said.
Arugay said the threat posed by the assassins to the life of the President is low. Asked to rate the threat to the Chief Executive with 10 as the highest, the NCRcom chief said: "Probably two to three. These sparrow operations are actually a propaganda move or an activity that is meant to intimidate."
"Anti-insurgency monitoring has been intensified to avert any grandstanding by lawless elements. The AFP continues to share intelligence information with the PNP to craft preventive measures and prepare for various scenarios," said Arugay.
According to him, they have not received reports of plans by communist or terrorist elements to infiltrate the ranks of the rallyists and subsequently sabotage the demonstrations.
He said about 10,000 to 17,000 may take part in the demonstrations in various parts of Metro Manila, including the vicinity of Batasan complex.
He said at least 2,000 troops under NCRcom would be on standby for the Sona, including six companies of Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) soldiers who may be deployed to the streets.
He said two battalions from Southern Luzon and Northern Luzon will augment the NCRcom.
However, Arugay said the military will be playing a support role to the PNP, specifically the NCRPO which will be deploying at least 6,000 policemen to ensure peace and order during the President's address.
He assured the military's "tactical readiness to react to any civil disturbance during and after" the Sona.
After the press briefing, Arugay witnessed the demonstration of the capabilities by scores of CDM soldiers at the AFP grandstand.
"Troops trained in disturbance control and emergency medical procedures are already garizoned in the capital area. While there is a clear downtrend on public rallies and demonstrations against the government, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is still on the highest alert status. Ours is continued vigilance. Nothing can be taken for granted and for the stability of our republic," he said. (VR/Sunnex)
