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Friday, December 13, 2002
PNP ups security v. terror, rebel threats
By Ernie N. Olson Jr.
LA TRINIDAD -- Police will take preemptive steps to deter possible atrocities that the New People's Army or other dissident terrorist groups may undertake to disrupt the otherwise pleasant peace and order situation in the Cordilleras.
The measures will be undertaken especially with the upcoming anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines on December 26.
The Police Regional Office-Cordillera is on heightened alert amid a series of terror attacks in various parts of the country.
"We have already alerted all our offices and coordinated with concerned units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines assigned in the region even if we were assured that Baguio was declared a white zone by dissidents based here," said Chief Supt. Victor Luga, director of the Police Regional Office in the Cordilleras.
He explained that Baguio was declared "a white zone" by the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, because rebels usually have their rest and recreation here, and also because many if not most of their "front organizations" are based in the city.
"Usually, these disruptive activities of theirs are conducted about two weeks before or after the anniversary date itself so we have not only enhanced our usual static defense measures but also initiated pro-active measures like preventive patrols and the like," Luga added.
Luga revealed that many sightings of dissidents have been reported in the past months, mostly in Lagayan and Tineg, in Abra and its shared boundary with Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, and also within the Abra-La Union boundary.
He pointed out that the sightings were confirmed by elements of the 503rd and 501st Infantry Brigades of the Army.
"So far, we were told that the activities being conducted by dissidents recently in these areas, especially in the hinterlands, were mostly organizational and propaganda-based," he said.
Earlier reports identified 346 barangays in Northern Luzon as rebel-infested. They are now under close watch by the Armed Forces North Luzon Command (Nolcom), a military official said.
Maj. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia, commanding general of the command, said additional soldiers would be deployed to beef up the existing force in Central Luzon, where majority of the NPA-infested areas are located.
Of the 346 barangays, 24 were labeled as "NPA-influenced" due to the presence of political fronts. "Four of these are in the Cordillera region," Garcia revealed. Sun.Star Baguio |
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