PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde has alerted his men over the imminent threat posed by the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels amid the group's celebration of its 50th founding anniversary.
“Actually, merong threat. Two days ago, meron na harassment na nangyari sa Agusan...and Sorsogon pala, so we expect na meron pa rin mangyayari na ganyan, kaya we have to be on guard lagi. Alam naman natin na this leftist group, lalo na ‘yung armed wing nila, are really trying to show na they are still a force to reckon with kahit na ito mangilan-ngilan na lang,” he said in a chance interview on Tuesday, December 18.
(There was a threat. There were harassment cases in Agusan and Sorsogon two days ago, and they will do it again, so we have to be always on guard. We know that this leftist group, especially its armed wing, is really trying to show that they are still a force to reckon with despite their numbers.)
“These are very isolated (attacks) and being perpetrated sa mga remote areas lalo na sa mga tinatawag nating mga soft targets (in remote areas, especially in what we call as soft targets),” he added.
Albayalde was referring to the attack staged by suspected NPA rebels at the Magallanes Municipal Police Station in Agusan del Norte and the Provincial Mobile Force Company detachment in Sorsogon Police Provincial Office on Monday evening, December 17.
Three policemen, identified as Police Officer (PO) 1 Rolan Geul, PO1 Sonny Son Estera and PO1 Melvin Bartolata, and a civilian were hurt when NPA rebels fired upon the Magallanes Police Station in Barangay Poblacion.
On December 18, the Bicol region was placed on full alert in preparation for possible attacks by the NPA rebels, which were earlier tagged by the government as terrorists.
Albayalde said similar attacks from the leftist group are still expected even during the days where they declared a unilateral ceasefire.
“Kaya nga ang sabi natin ‘yung ating mga kapulisan, they should be always alert and vigilant. ‘Yung sinasabi natin na they should maintain their alertness at target hardening measures and of course ‘yung kanilang camp defense plan,” he said.
Earlier, the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA said it will observe a temporary holiday ceasefire on 12:01 a.m. of December 24 until 11:59 p.m. of December 26 and at 12:01 a.m. of December 31 until 11:59 p.m. of January 1 to give the public a chance to celebrate Christmas holidays peacefully, as well as for the group's 50th founding anniversary celebration.
The PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), however, refused to believe that the NPA rebels will be faithful to their ceasefire declaration.
The AFP and PNP, which said there is no suspension of military and police operations during the Christmas holidays, cited the attacks conducted by the rebel group during the ceasefire agreement in the past. (SunStar Philippines)